Its the season of respiratory illnesses: COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. But masking among educators, as among the general population, is largely a thing of the past.
New nationally representative survey data from the EdWeek Research Center show that just 3 percent of educators say they wear a face mask daily or almost daily at work this school year. Sixty-one percent never do.
The other 36 percent say they wear a mask at work only in certain circumstances, like if theyre not feeling well or are trying to avoid getting sick.
The survey of nearly 1,000 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders was conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, as virus activity began to ramp up. Now, at the start of the new year, COVID-19 and flu cases are surging.
We havent seen any signs that were peaking, especially in terms of influenza, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies respiratory viruses. I fully expect that for at least six to eight weeks, well have very significant respiratory virus activity across the country.
The EdWeek Research Center survey found no significant difference in mask-wearing between job titlesteachers were not more likely than administrators to wear a mask, for instance. But geography did influence educators masking decisions.
Seventy percent of educators working in a rural or town school district said they have never worn a mask this school year, compared to 58 percent in a suburban district and 51 percent in an urban district.
The size of the district also made a difference: Educators in smaller school districts were more likely to say they never wore a mask than those in districts with 10,000 or more students.
Some teachers say teaching in a mask can be uncomfortable and makes it more difficult to connect with students, who cant see their facial cues and smiles.
I found it very difficult to talk and teach with a mask on, said Jayne Swan, a 3rd grade teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y., who stopped wearing a mask as soon as it was no longer required. For me personally, it was very uncomfortable. It made me feel hot and disgustingtalking all day inside that mask.
She had COVID-19 over winter break, but she said she isnt too worried about picking up illnesses at work. She keeps a window cracked in her classroom and washes her hands frequently.
Other than that, I dont feel like the mask is necessarily going to help me, Swan said. Im surrounded by children all day.
Masks can also get in the way of teaching reading, since students watch teachers model the correct tongue placement and mouth formation when sounding out letters and words, educators have said. English learners are also watching their teachers mouths during pronunciation lessons.
Even so, teachers who have worn a mask regularly this school year say theyve remained healthyand they dont want to forgo that protection.
Its more about reducing my overall risk, said Michaela Tracy, a high school math teacher in Lexington, Mass. Im more social now, and Id rather not get sick at work. Id rather minimize my contacts at work, so I feel more open about seeing ... [immuno]compromised family members.
Its not just COVID, we have plenty of other illnesses going around, she added. Theres all kinds of things you just dont want to get.
Tracy said she used to get sick three or four times a year from picking up germs at school. So far this school year, she hasnt gotten sick at all.
Susan Smith, a secondary social studies teacher in Minnesota, said just two or three employees out of the 120 at her school regularly wear a mask. Shes one of them, mostly because her sister is going through chemotherapy. Smith is wary of bringing any infections to her.
So far this school year, Smith said shes avoided getting COVID-19 or the flu, even though several teachers at her school were sick over winter break.
Smith said shes had a few people question why shes still wearing a mask when most others arent, but she doesnt mind: To me, my personal health is way more important than your opinion of me, she said.
Mask-wearing among educators has decreased since the EdWeek Research Centers last query about it in summer 2022 .
Then, 12 percent said they planned to wear a mask regularly in the coming school year without it being required. Nearly half said they didnt plan to wear a mask in the 2022-23 school year at all, and 36 percent said theyd wear one in certain circumstances, such as when theyre not feeling well.
A different EdWeek Research Center survey, conducted in fall 2022, found that most educators continue to go to work when theyre sick , in part because they feel like they have too much work to call in sick.
But public health experts say that going to work sick can spread viruses. Strategies like masking can help.
Mask requirements are no longer around, but certainly that doesnt take away from the fact that masks are a proven way to limit the spread of respiratory infections, Pekosz said, adding that a well-fitting mask will help protect someone even if no one else in the room is wearing one.
People should also get vaccinated against both the flu and COVID-19 to prevent serious illness, he added.
Arutha Kulasinghe, PhD
Clinical-oMx Lab Group Leader Frazer Institute, University of Queensland
Infectious diseases like COVID-19 can severely damage various organs. Understanding how infectious agents spread from the lungs to the rest of the body and their behavior in different organs and tissues leads scientists to develop more effective treatments. In this webinar, Arutha Kulasinghe will discuss how his team uses spatial transcriptomics to uncover the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced effects on multiple organs and tissues.
Topics to be covered
Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 | 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Eastern Time This webinar will be available to view live and on demand.
Speaker
Arutha Kulasinghe, PhD
Clinical-oMx Lab Group Leader Frazer Institute, University of Queensland
Viruses that jump from animals to humans have plagued human populations for centuries. From rabies to the Zika virus to the recent SARS-CoV-2 virus, understanding how each virus spills over and infects new species reveals critical insights into viral dynamics, human biology, and disease. In this webinar, Pranav Pandit and Daniel Streicker will discuss zoonotic virus pathology, spillover events, and future mitigation strategies.
Topics to be covered
Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern Time This webinar will be available to view live and on demand.
Speakers
Pranav Pandit, PhD
Research Scientist University of California, Davis
Daniel Streicker, PhD
Professor of Viral Ecology University of Glasgow
For more on how viruses makes the jump to humans, visitthis explainer article.
Viruses that jump from animals to humans have plagued human populations for centuries. From rabies to the Zika virus to the recent SARS-CoV-2 virus, understanding how each virus spills over and infects new species reveals critical insights into viral dynamics, human biology, and disease. In this webinar, Pranav Pandit and Daniel Streicker will discuss zoonotic virus pathology, spillover events, and future mitigation strategies.
Topics to be covered
Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern Time This webinar will be available to view live and on demand.
Speakers
Pranav Pandit, PhD
Research Scientist University of California, Davis
Daniel Streicker, PhD
Professor of Viral Ecology University of Glasgow
For more on how viruses makes the jump to humans, visitthis explainer article.
The United States is in the middle of a wintertime COVID wave, driven by holiday gatherings, people spending more time inside, waning immunity from low uptake of the new COVID vaccine and a new highly infectious COVID variant, JN.1.
The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released an update on Jan. 5 about the prevalence of JN.1, explaining that the new variant may be "intensifying the spread of COVID-19 this winter." Test positivity and wastewater data show that viral activity in the U.S. is higher than this time last year, with wastewater data especially rising rapidly the past several weeks. (COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are still lower than last year, the CDC noted.)
A viral social media post based on data from the CDC is calling this surge the second-biggest COVID wave in the history of the U.S. after the omicron surge from late 2021 to early 2022, which infected more people than even the early days of the pandemic.
Lucky Tran, Ph.D., science communicator at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, compiled the CDC data into a graph, which has been shared widely on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
Tran also said in his post that projections show as many as 1 in 3 people in the U.S. could be infected with COVID during the peak months of the current wave and up to 2 million people could be infected in a single day data he attributed to Michael Hoerger, Ph.D., assistant professor at Tulane University School of Medicine who leads the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative's data tracker.
Tran tells TODAY.com he was motivated to share the data on the current levels of virus circulating because "many people underestimate just how much virus is around," and that research shows once people are aware of the real levels, "they (are) more willing to wear a mask, social distance when required, to stay home and get vaccinated and take all of those measures. That's why it's so important to do this."
Yes, the U.S. is in the middle of a COVID wave, multiple experts tell TODAY.com.
A CDC chart of national and regional COVID trends in wastewater shows the national viral activity rate of 12.85 from the week ending Dec. 30, 2023 (the most recent data available) is higher than anything seen since January 2022, as far back as the publicly available CDC data goes. The national rate for the week ending Jan. 15, 2022, was 22.78.
CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner tells TODAY.com via email that "COVID 19 in wastewater is currently (at) very high levels across the country."
"Last year, the peak of infections occurred in late December, early January. We are seeing early evidence of the same timing this year, but we will continue to monitor closely," Skinner continues.
"These levels are much lower than the Omicron wave in early 2022," he says, adding that JN.1 is the most frequently detected variant in wastewater. Skinner did not specify if the current COVID wave is the country's second-largest.
The CDC noted in its Jan. 5 statement that wastewater and test positivity data are both higher than the year before by about 27% and 17% respectively. It added that wastewater levels "are currently high and increasing in all regions."
Hoerger tells TODAY.com that based on the wastewater data collected from Biobot Analytics (which used to provide the CDC its wastewater data), the U.S. is in its second-largest COVID surge. He says his own predictive model indicates cases will continue to rise until mid-February. He estimates that mid-December 2023 to mid-February 2024 will be the peak of the current wave and that 1 in 3 Americans will be infected with COVID during this timeframe.
He says his data also show that on the highest day of the current wave, there will be 2 million new COVID cases, which would lend to many more infections than last winter, which had its highest day of about 1.7 million new infections. While CDC data suggest viral activity levels have been similar the last two Decembers, Hoerger explains that the acceleration in COVID activity in 2023 was faster than in 2022, suggesting there will be a higher peak this season.
"I think people can get a little bit too concerned about the height of the peak," Hoerger says. "What's really troubling is just the total number of days with a really high transmission based on my model or if you're just looking at the wastewater."
Dr. Albert Ko, infectious disease physician and professor of public health, epidemiology and medicine at Yale School of Public Health, agrees that focusing on peaks isn't as helpful as stressing that COVID is spreading widely in much of the country right now.
"More important than saying this is more than the last wave or two waves or three waves ago ... is that we are getting into surge, and the public should be aware about how to protect themselves," Ko tells TODAY.com.
A surge this time of year is expected, Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com, and it's perfectly reasonable to call the current COVID wave the countrys second-largest, he says.
But I dont want to panic people, he explains. This winter increase is not going to be akin to the previous winter increases, which really stressed hospitals," though it is likely to keep medical professionals "very busy," he adds.
Tran stresses that it's important to understand the burden of COVID beyond hospitalizations and deaths being lower than they were earlier in the pandemic.
"While we're not seeing the same levels of hospitalizations or deaths as 2020 or 2021, it's still a very high baseline compared with before the pandemic, and that's something that we should still care about," Tran says. He adds that more virus circulating can also lead to increases in long COVID and chronic illness, more people (especially health care workers) missing work and other important events, and immunocompromised people not being able to access essential services, like health care.
Amid a rise in COVID cases, as well as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), masks mandates have returned in medical settings in several states, Reuters reported:
But even if you're not required to mask, the experts say that now is a good time to wear your N95 or KN95.
"Get your mask out again if you're going indoors, even to the supermarket," Schaffner says. "Certainly if you're traveling, going to religious services, going to that basketball game, where everybody's close together and cheering, those are environments where the virus can spread."
The new COVID variant JN.1 is responsible for more than 61% of cases in the U.S. as of the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, according to CDC data. The variant may be more transmissible or better at evading immune protection than previous COVID variants, TODAY.com previously reported.
It also appears to be "intensifying" the spread of COVID this winter, the CDC said in a statement. That said, JN.1 doesn't seem to cause more severe illness than previous variants.
The symptoms you'll experience if infected by the latest COVID variant, JN.1, will depend on your underlying health and immunity. But generally speaking JN.1 symptoms are similar to those caused by other variants, such as HV.1 and BA.2.86, aka Pirola.
According to the CDC, these are:
The experts all agree that the current rate of new COVID cases means it's time to take precautions to prevent further spread. This is especially important for individuals who are at high risk for severe illness, such as the elderly and immunocompromised.
But even if you or loved ones don't fall into this category, by taking precautions, you can prevent spreading the virus to someone who may get much sicker than you and reduce your risk of long COVID.
So, the experts urge:
It's tempting to think the pandemic is over, but Hoerger stresses that data show it isn't. In fact, a leading World Health Organization official recently posted on X that we're heading into the fifth year of the pandemic.
"The bottom line," Ko says, "is everybody should consider themselves under risk of getting COVID.
Maura Hohman is the senior health editor for TODAY.com and has been covering health and wellness news and trends since 2015, when she graduated from j
Nova Scotia
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Posted: January 05, 2024
A growing number of health-care workers in Nova Scotia are not getting their annual flu shots,according to figures released by their employer, Nova Scotia Health.
In response to a request by CBC News, authority spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski wrote: "As of December 14, 2023, 7,231 (22.5%) employees have had the flu vaccine during the 2023-24 flu season."
That's the lowest flu vaccination rate in at least a decade, according to statistics posted on the Nova Scotia Department of Health's webpage. Vaccination rates range from 45.1 per cent during the 2015-16 flu season to 29.8 per cent last year.
Although Nova Scotia Health tracks employee vaccination rates, Lewandowskisaid some health-care workers may have gotten their shots on their own, at pharmacies and clinics, without informing their employer. There's no obligation to report.
Despite that, the drop in the vaccination rate worriesNova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of HealthDr. Robert Strang.
"We're nowhere near where we really need to be in vaccine uptake," Strangsaid Thursday.
"Nova Scotia is not alone in terms of what I would call [the]underuse of influenza vaccine by health-care workers. It's an issue across the country and beyond.
"But I personally[am]still mystified that health-care workers, many of whom are well educated on influenza and see the impacts of influenza, still decline to get the protection from the vaccine."
Janet Hazelton, the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union, called the decline disappointingbut understandable.
"I think it's very important for health-care workers, for everyone, to get the flu shot, but especially for health-care workers because they're around vulnerable people," said Hazelton.
"But I also understand that health-care workers are just fatigued. They've been through a rough couple of years."
Robert Huish, an associate professor of international development studies at Dalhousie University, was also surprised by this year's 22.5 per cent vaccination rate.
"For only one in five health workers, that's a new low," said Huish, who is writing two books on COVID 19 and the response by governments to the pandemic, including the use of vaccines.
"Physicians are usually at the highest rate of those who go for flu shots or vaccines, whereas nurses [are]lower. And then health aides and even paramedics are the least likely to participate in that."
In 2019, Strang suggested mandatory vaccinations might be neededin response to a 41 per cent flu vaccination rate for health-care workers classified as acute-care staff.
Given the province's experience with the COVID-19 vaccination program, and the ongoing controversy over vaccines,the province's top public health official is no longer convinced that's the answer.
"That mandatory policy was very justified in an acute pandemic," said Strang. "It's harder to justify those mandatory approaches in a non-pandemic time.But we certainly need to look at all ways that we could use to get more health-care workers and the general population vaccinated."
Both Hazeltonand Huishthink the same way.
"I think in order to make something mandatory there has to be a health crisis likeCOVID, and even that met with a fair bit of resistance," said Hazelton. "I don't think the flu shot is something that we should mandate."
Huish said "there's a bit of saltiness still in the air for some health workers after the COVID-19 pandemic, where their employers said you must be vaccinated or you can pack your bags and leave."
"And a lot of nurses," he said, "a lot of paramedics [and]other people who work in the health system as well, chose to say no."
All three agree that educating people and making the vaccine readily available will convince more health workers to get their flu shots.
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Jean Laroche has been a CBC reporter since 1987. He's been covering Nova Scotia politics since 1995 and has been at Province House longer than any sitting member.
January 03, 2024
2 min read
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Maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy was associated with reduced chances of influenza-associated ED visits or hospitalizations in infants aged younger than 6 months, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Infants younger than 6 months are at high risk of influenza-associated complications but are not eligible for vaccination given the absence of licensed influenza vaccines for this age group, Leila C. Sahni, PhD, MD, of the department of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens Hospital, and colleagues wrote.
Maternal influenza vaccination is safe, immunogenic, and can prevent laboratory-confirmed influenza and its complications in both mothers and infants, they wrote. Maternal immune responses to influenza vaccine during pregnancy are comparable to those of nonpregnant adults, and the transfer of influenza antibodies, either naturally acquired or vaccine induced, from mother to fetus is highly efficient.
The researchers studied a cohort of 3,764 infants aged younger than 6 months who were seen in the ED or hospitalized for an acute respiratory illness within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network from the 2016-2017 through 2019-2020 influenza seasons. They also accessed immunization systems and medical records, and asked parents to self-report on maternal vaccination status.
Among 3,541 infants in a control group and 223 with influenza, 53% were born to mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy. Among the infants, maternal vaccination was 34% (95% CI, 12%-50%) effective overall, 39% (95% CI, 12%-58%) effective against influenza-associated hospitalizations and 19% (95% CI, 24% to 48%) effective against ED visits.
The authors also noted that among infants aged younger than 3 months, effectiveness was 53% (95% CI, 30%-68%). Effectiveness was 52% (95% CI, 30%-68%) among infants with mothers who were vaccinated during their third trimester, and 17% (95% CI, 15% to 40%) among those with mothers who were vaccinated during the first or second trimesters.
Despite the well-documented benefits of maternal influenza vaccination for both mothers and infants, influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy remains suboptimal, the authors wrote. While continued efforts are needed to determine optimal timing, clinicians should continue to offer influenza vaccination at any time during pregnancy to protect both the pregnant person and infant.
A related editorial authored by Matthew J. Zuber, MD, of Wake Forest School of Medicine, and colleagues noted a huge opportunity to improve vaccine coverage and health outcomes for all pregnant persons and newborns since only half of pregnant people are receiving the vaccine.
To optimize health of the pregnancy dyad, it is essential that vaccine registries expand from children to persons of all ages and thereby eliminate record scatter, they wrote. A second opportunity is that all clinicians seeing pregnant persons for a pregnancy visit, prenatal visit or a visit of a child strongly recommend influenza vaccination during pregnancy. A third opportunity is that obstetric and pediatric clinicians collaborate to share effective approaches in their communities to enhance access, confidence and coverage of vaccines and preventive care. Our patients need us to advocate for universal vaccine registries and roll up our sleeves and work collaboratively to optimize maternal and infant health for all.
Sahni LC, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2023;doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5639.
Zuber MJ, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2023;doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5630.
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Disclosures: Sahni reports receiving grants from the CDC during the conduct of the study and participating in the Overcoming COVID-19 network outside the submitted work. Please see the study for all other authors relevant financial disclosures. Zuber reports receiving grants from Wake Forest School of Medicine and personal fees from DynaMed outside the submitted work. Please see the editorial for all other authors relevant financial disclosures.
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Understanding the Decline in Flu Vaccination
Consumer demand for the flu shot has seen a worrying decline in 2024, with only 155 million influenza vaccines distributed during the 2023-2024 season. This is a significant drop from the 173.37 million in the previous season and the 194 million in the 2021-2022 season. This decline in demand raises serious concerns about the potential impact on public health and emphasizes the urgent need for awareness campaigns to encourage vaccination.
Its worth noting that the demand for COVID vaccines has also fallen sharply since 2021 when the shots first became available. Moderna reported preliminary 2023 sales of 6.7 billion for its COVID vaccine, surpassing the lower end of its full year forecast. The company is set to report late-stage data from its next generation COVID shot and a combination flu COVID shot in 2024. Furthermore, Moderna plans to seek regulatory approvals in 2024 for its seasonal flu shot, which generated a stronger immune response against all four A and B strains of the virus compared to traditional flu shots in a late-stage trial.
The declining demand for flu shots, coupled with a decrease in COVID-19 vaccination, is leading to concerns about a potential tripledemic of flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Vaccine uptake for RSV and flu is lagging, with only about 10% of nursing home residents receiving the RSV vaccine by mid-December. Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospital admissions have been rising, and flu activity is currently elevated and increasing in most parts of the country. This has led the CDC to issue a health alert to encourage vaccination and testing for these respiratory viruses. Health officials are particularly concerned about a potential surge in cases following holiday travel and are emphasizing the importance of vaccinations among healthcare workers to maintain capacity in hospitals.
The Weekly Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Dashboard provides preliminary weekly flu vaccination data, including coverage estimates, using data sources like surveys, healthcare claims, and electronic medical records. It underscores the importance of flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, especially those at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. It also states that it is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time.
A recent study suggests that a high-dose flu vaccine may be more effective for adults aged 50 to 64 years compared to standard-dose vaccines. The study evaluated a recombinant vaccine with more influenza hemagglutinin protein and found that flu cases were about 15% lower in the 50 to 64 age group. This could provide a substantial public health benefit, especially during severe influenza seasons.
In conclusion, the declining demand for flu shots and other vaccines poses a significant threat to public health. Its crucial to boost public awareness about the importance of vaccinations and to develop strategies to increase vaccine uptake. The health of our communities depends on it.
(Precision Vaccinations News)
According to a Medical News BriefbyEmilyHarris with The JAMA Network,observationaldatafrom more than 1.6 million people in the United Statessuggests that a high-dose vaccine may also be more effective than standard-dose vaccines for certain adults.
Reported in theNew England Journal of Medicine in December 2023, the Original Articleevaluated a recombinant vaccine that contains more than triple the amount of influenza hemagglutinin protein compared with standard-dose vaccines.
Flu cases were about 15% lower for people aged 50 to 64 who received the recombinant vaccine.
Because standard-dose vaccines only prevent up to 40% to 60% of influenza cases, decreasing the number of cases by an additional 15% would still provide a substantial public health benefit, especially during more severe influenza seasons, the researchers wrote.
As of December 31, 2023, the U.S. CDC reported that over155million egg, cell, and nasal-based influenza vaccines, which are generally available at local pharmacies, had been distributed this flu season.
Georgia Department of Public Health advises getting vaccines to combat widespread flu activity
by OWEN HESTER | WGXA News
WGXA News | Photo: Georgia Department of Public Health{br}
ATLANTA, Ga. (WGXA) -- The Georgia Department of Public Health is advising those who haven't gotten their flu shots yet to not wait any longer, as widespread flu activity picks up across the state.
It is not too late to get a flu shot. Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, says Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., DPH commissioner.
Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue, and can vary from person to person.
Even if the vaccine doesnt completely prevent illness from flu, it can help reduce the severity and risk of serious complications and keep people out of the hospital," said Toomey.
Other recommended methods of preventing the flu include:
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FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests indicating a positive result are photographed in New York, April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
WASHINGTON (TND)
COVID infections and hospitalizations are rising as the U.S. goes through its first seasonal uptick after the end of the public health emergency, which as coming along with a rise in flu and RSV cases and creating a triple-threat of respiratory illnesses.
The U.S. has seen surges of respiratory illnesses, including COVID, during the fall and winter months as cooler weather pushes people inside and gatherings for the holidays begin since the onset of the pandemic. Some years, like with the Omicron variant in 2022, saw significant spikes in severe illness and death.
But this year appears to be much less severe in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. A new COVID variant, JN.1, has become the dominant strain spreading across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JN.1 is highly transmissible, but health experts say that it does not appear to be driving a spike in severe illness or hospitalizations.
The new COVID variant JN.1 is highly transmissible, so it's causing a lot of mild illness that doesn't require hospitalizations, but some hospitalizations will occur among older people. Fortunately, the updated vaccine continues to protect against severe serious, serious disease caused by JN.1, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
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Even though the uptick in flu and COVID cases is not expected to be severe, it will still result in thousands of illnesses and deaths in the U.S.
For the week ending Dec. 23, hospitalizations rose by nearly 17% from the previous week. There were about 29,000 new hospital admissions, an improvement from 39,000 the same time in 2022 and 61,000 in 2021, according to CDC data. Deaths also increased by 10% from the week prior.
The COVID bump comes along with more flu infections, which the CDC estimates to total around 7.1 million illnesses, 73,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths so far this season.
Health officials saw lower vaccine uptake with every round of the coronavirus vaccine that was released as people grew tired of rolling up their sleeves and vaccine skepticism ramped up over the course of the last few years. Getting a COVID vaccine has also become more burdensome for patients after the expiration of the public health emergency without federal funds boosting the availability of it.
There's a fair amount of vaccine fatigue out there and people want to put COVID behind them and unfortunately, that means we have underutilized the JN.1 updated vaccine, as well as the influenza vaccine. You're not reaching the same population that we did before COVID, Schaffner said. I hope over time, we can turn this around, educating people and making them comfortable and understanding that this is a good thing for them, their families and their communities.
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The uptick in COVID and flu cases has prompted hospitals in some parts of the country to reinstate mask mandates to minimize the spread of the illnesses. Some hospitals in places like New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. renewed mask requirements following an uptick in infections and hospitalizations.
It remains unlikely for widespread masking rules to make a return as the U.S. has largely moved on from the pandemic, with voluntary masking increasingly rarer to see and COVID fatigue hampering efforts to get shots in arms with the new COVID booster and this years flu shot.
Despite the challenges and new variants, existing treatments for COVID and the flu are still effective.
Public health experts are encouraging people to reach out to their doctors for treatment if they become sick. That is especially important for those who fall into high-risk groups of developing severe illness or complications.
In terms of treatment, we have treatments available both for flu and for COVID. And we're just having to remind people, particularly those in high-risk groups, that if they develop symptoms to contact their health care providers because we can help them get better sooner, Schaffner said.
Americans can also still receive free COVID tests from the U.S. government delivered by the United States Postal Service at no charge after the government reopened the tests portal in anticipation of a busy fall and winter season for infection. Households can order another round of four at-home tests and anyone who did not accept the offer in September can get up to eight through COVIDtests.gov.
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If you have not gotten a flu shot yet, public health officials urge dont wait any longer. Flu activity is widespread throughout Georgia, and the states current flu report lists flu activity at its highest level.
It is not too late to get a flu shot. Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, says Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey.
Toomey says even if the vaccine doesnt completely prevent illness from the flu, it can help reduce the severity and risk of serious complications and keep people out of the hospital.
The flu vaccine is widely available in public health departments, doctors offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics, and pharmacies.
To find a location near you, visit www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.
Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.
Some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people aged 65 years and older and those with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, and pregnant women. Also, children younger than 5 years old, but especially those younger than 2, are more susceptible to flu complications.
In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antiviral drugs that fight against the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.
There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:
For more information about flu and how to prevent it, visit the Department of Public Health website. You can also monitor the states flu activity through weekly influenza reports posted on the DPH website. Reports are updated each Friday.
