Category: Flu Vaccine

Every year, influenza, commonly known as the flu, affects countless individuals worldwide. Particularly vulnerable are those with underlying health conditions like diabetes or asthma. In fact, during past flu seasons, 9 out of 10 adults hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying health condition. This makes the flu shot an essential protective measure against this pervasive disease, especially for these at-risk individuals.

According to the Weekly Influenza Vaccination Dashboard provided by the CDC, vaccination data is consistently tracked, including coverage estimates for children, pregnant persons, adults, and adults 65+. The dashboard also offers insight into the locations administering these vaccinations, whether in pharmacies or medical offices. It emphasizes the importance of flu vaccination for people at higher risk of serious complications from influenza and encourages everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every season.

The Rhode Island Department of Health also advocates for vaccination against common respiratory viruses. With the holiday season approaching, gatherings and travel could increase the spread of these viruses. This makes it particularly important for older adults and individuals with underlying health issues to get vaccinated. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are widely available and can be received simultaneously. The department also provides information on additional preventative measures such as regular handwashing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when sick.

A recent meta-analysis study suggests the flu vaccine may offer more protection than previously thought. The study indicates a significant decrease in the risk of heart attacks and deaths from cardiovascular diseases among vaccinated individuals. The researchers suggest that the flu vaccines ability to reduce inflammation caused by the flu, prevent secondary infections, and stabilize atherosclerotic plaque could contribute to these heart health benefits. Despite these findings, flu vaccination rates have dropped, particularly among adults over 65, a demographic that witnessed the highest flu-related deaths last year.

The CDC recommends influenza antiviral medications for adults with underlying conditions, particularly during periods of co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Oral oseltamivir and oral baloxavir are available treatment options for patients at higher risk for influenza complications depending on their underlying conditions and age. The use of peramivir or zanamivir in high-risk outpatients with influenza is limited. The highest risk for complications from influenza is for children younger than 2 years old. Antiviral treatment decisions should be based on knowledge of other circulating respiratory viruses as well as influenza virus strains.

The importance of influenza vaccination for adults with underlying conditions is further emphasized during National Influenza Vaccination Week. This event encourages action and provides educational resources to inform readers about the topic and the urgency of getting vaccinated.

With the widespread prevalence of influenza and the heightened risk for those with underlying conditions, it is clear that the flu shot is an essential protective measure. As researchers continue to uncover the additional benefits of the flu vaccine, it is crucial to promote awareness and encourage vaccination, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.

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The Importance of Influenza Vaccination for Adults with Underlying Health Conditions - Medriva

Healthy Savannah, YMCA promote flu vaccination ahead of holidays

by Christian Felt

Healthy Savannah is working with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia to remind residents that it's not too late to get the flu shot as a part of National Influenza Vaccination Week (Credit: File){p}{/p}

(WTGS)

Healthy Savannah is working with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia to remind residents that it's not too late to get the flu shot as a part of National Influenza Vaccination Week.

Elsie Smalls, Healthy Savannah's Operations Manager said as the temperatures continue to drop and the holidays rapidly approach, it is important for residents to protect themselves from the threat of getting sick.

Smalls also said that she wanted to dispel some myths regarding the vaccine.

She said the shot is made up of inactive strains of the virus that can't actually infect you. She added that although it doesn't 100% prevent illness, it will significantly reduce the severity of your symptoms if you were to get sick.

The CDC also offers an online tool to find vaccination providers in your area.

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South Carolina health department urges flu vaccinations during National Flu Vaccine Week - ABC NEWS 4

New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald. (Mike Gwizdala MediaNews Group file)

NEW YORK New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald recently said in a press release that influenza is now prevalent in New York State. The declaration requires that healthcare workers who have not received this years flu vaccine wear masks in certain healthcare settings.

With National Influenza Vaccination Week recognized on Dec. 4-8, in the release, the Department urged the public to get their flu vaccine as holiday gatherings approach.

We have now declared that flu is prevalent in New York State, which means health care personnel who are not vaccinated against the flu this season need to take extra precautions and wear a mask in health care facilities, as they are exposed to sick patients and come into close contact with those most vulnerable to the flu, McDonald said in the release. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot as it is the best way to protect yourself and will lessen the symptoms if you do get sick. Its not too late; get your flu shot today.

McDonalds announcement requires unvaccinated healthcare workers in healthcare and residential facilities and agencies regulated by the Department to wear surgical or procedure masks during those times when the Commissioner declares that influenza is prevalent in New York State.

According to the release, these facilities include but are not limited to: hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic and treatment centers, certified home health agencies, long-term home health care programs, AIDS home care programs, licensed home care service agencies, limited licensed home care service agencies and hospices.

Amendments to the regulations allow for the removal of masks when healthcare workers are accompanying patients in the community, providing speech therapy services or communicating with persons who lip read.

The Regulation for Prevention of Influenza Transmission first went into effect during the 2013-14 flu season. Wednesdays announcement puts into effect a provision of the regulation that was made annually from 2014 to 2019.

The last time the declaration was made was in late 2019 and was then left in place throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency said the release. On May 18, 2023, after the public health emergency ended, the declaration was removed and will return on an annual basis, if needed as designated by the State Health Commissioner.

The Department also continues to recommend to all who are eligible to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine and RSV vaccine. The Departments Influenza Surveillance Report, with data through November 25, shows a total of 14,227 positive flu cases across all 62 counties in New York have been reported this season to date, said the release.

Outside of New York City, week-over-week lab-confirmed flu cases are up 34%, rising from 1,487 cases in the previous week to 1,993, according to the release. In New York City, cases are up 21%, rising from 1,713 cases in the previous week to 2,068.

This information is also available on the Departments Flu Tracker, said the release, which provides timely information about local, regional and statewide influenza activity.

There have been two pediatric flu-associated deaths in the state; one in Erie County and one in New York City. These deaths will be reported in the influenza report that will be issued later this week, according to the Departments release.

The flu shot is available to those 6 months and older. Those aged 65 years and older, people with certain chronic medical conditions, young children and pregnant women are most in jeopardy of developing serious complications, said the release, which could require hospitalization and result in death.

In addition, the release said those 65 years of age and older should get a high-dose flu shot if available.

Avoiding illness by getting the flu shot remains the most effective way to prevent infection and reduce the risk of severe illness for children and adults said the release. According to research gathered by the CDC, vaccination has significant health advantages, particularly for people at risk of getting very sick, including:

It prevents people from getting sick with the flu, cutting the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40 to 60%.

In children, the vaccine reduces the risk of severe, life-threatening flu by 75%; decreases flu-related hospitalizations by 41%; and cuts the risk of emergency department visits in half.

Flu vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk of being hospitalized by an average of 40% and helps protect the baby from influenza for several months after birth when babies are too young to get vaccinated.

For older adults, the vaccine reduces the risk of flu-associated hospitalization by about 40%.

Among those with chronic health conditions, the flu shot is associated with lower rates of some cardiac events, as well as reducing the risk of hospitalization from flu-related worsening of lung diseases and diabetes.

The Department utilizes several tools to increase public knowledge about rising flu rates, the release said, and the importance of vaccinations as a critical prevention step, including public education campaigns and information on social media platforms Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The flu shot is widely available, found at pharmacies, health clinics and physicians offices across the state, the release said. To locate a flu shot location nearby, visit vaccines.gov.

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, the department listed simple preventative actions that can help stop the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when sick.

Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information about influenza in New York, visit the Departments flu website: health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal.

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NYS Health Department declares the flu prevalent in state - Troy Record

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People who get the flu vaccine may have improved heart health, according to a recent study published in Scientific Reports.

Researchers from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, concluded that patients who received flu vaccinations had a 26% reduced risk of having a heart attack and were 33% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

This finding is based on a review of five randomized controlled trials that focused on myocardial disease and influenza vaccines.

CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA SURGE REPORTED IN NETHERLANDS AMID OUTBREAK IN CHINA

The patients who participated in the studies had all been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease previously and were 61 years old, on average.

Out of the total of 9,059 patients, 4,529 of them received the flu vaccine, while 4,530 received a placebo shot.

People who get the flu vaccine may have improved heart health, according to a recent study published in Scientific Reports. (iStock)

After a nine-month period, 621 of the people who received the placebo shot experienced "major cardiovascular events," compared to 517 of the patients who received the flu vaccine.

Those outcomes included myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death and stroke.

WHEN MEASURING HEART ATTACK RISK, ONE IMPORTANT RED FLAG IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, DOCTORS SAY

"Revealing a compelling insight into the potential benefits of influenza vaccination, our comprehensive meta-analysis, based on the latest randomized controlled trial data, demonstrates a significant interaction between influenza vaccination and the reduction of major cardiovascular events," wrote the researchers of the study.

"Notably, patients who received the influenza vaccine experienced a remarkable risk reduction of over 20% in cardiovascular death."

Patients who received flu vaccinations had a 26% reduced risk of having a heart attack and were 33% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

As for why influenza vaccines seem to reduce the risk, the researchers noted that the shot could prevent inflammation and secondary infections, while also stabilizing plaque amounts in the heart.

The vaccine could also help stimulate the immune system, which the study authors noted is essential for cardiovascular health.

SHOULD YOU GET THE COVID AND FLU VACCINES AT THE SAME TIME?

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, called the study "important" and said it "builds on what we already knew."

He was not involved in the research.

Heart disease is the primary cause of death among U.S. adults, killing one person every 33 seconds, according to the CDC. (iStock)

"It is not surprising that flu shots would decrease the risk of heart attacks," Siegel told Fox News Digital.

"The flu is one of the great enablers," he went on. "It adds stress and inflammation to the body and decreases the overall immune response, all of which can lead to acute cardiac events."

The flu "adds stress and inflammation to the body and decreases the overall immune response."

The researchers called for further research to "elucidate the precise mechanisms driving this association and to explore the long-term impact of influenza vaccination on cardiovascular outcomes."

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In the meantime, they recommended that "health care providers and policymakers should take heed of these findings and consider prioritizing influenza vaccination for patients with recent cardiovascular disease as a feasible and potentially life-saving preventive measure."

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for additional comment.

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Heart disease is the primary cause of death among U.S. adults, killing one person every 33 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Could flu vaccination reduce the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular deaths? - Fox News

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Researchers have found that the flu vaccine may be associated with a lower risk of dementia and heart attack.

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Researchers find flu vaccine may protect people from more than just flu - CBS Boston

Pharmacies, clinics, and primary care providers are offering the 2023-2024 updated covid booster and this years flu vaccineand its both safe and convenient to get both vaccines at the same time, according to medical experts.

In fact, you can get both shots in the same arm, said Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at UPMC.

There is no compelling evidence that either the effectiveness of either vaccine, or the risk of having a complication or side effects, is any different if you take them together or if you take them separately, said Snyder.

The CDC says that getting your respiratory virus vaccines together is perfectly fine, he said. We always want to make sure as many people as possible are availing themselves of these two protections.

Both vaccines sometimes have minor side effects, like a sore arm or body aches, but they shouldnt last more than a few days, Snyder added.

When we inject your arm (and it gets sore,) that is the blood flowing to that area, and that is your immune response in that area, just like if you get stung by a bee or if you get bitten by something, explained Dr. Brian Lamb, internal medicine physician at AHN. Your immune system is going to that area. Your body is detecting something foreign in that area so its going to investigate and see whats going on.

Aches and slight feverishness after the shots are a sign that your immune system is doing its job and learning how to fight the flu and covid, Lamb said. If you dont have symptoms, that doesnt mean the vaccine did not worksome people react differently and have milder symptoms.

Its kind of like putting your body through boot camp, he said. The vaccine is made to mimic that youre already under attackIts the same type of symptoms you get when you are sick. Its because your immune system is starting to rev up.

Keep updated

Whether a person gets the shots at the same time or on different visits, its important to keep updated, Snyder said.

People are more likely to get their full slate of vaccinations if they can get the ones that are safe and effective at the same time, Snyder said. Its more likely for people to get vaccinated if you can get them when its convenient. You risk people not coming back for that second visit.

Even if you previously got vaccinated for covid-19 or got your booster last year, this years vaccine is worth getting, said Dr. Barbara Nightingale, deputy director for clinical services at the Allegheny County Health Department.

(Covid and flu) are still leading causes of hospitalization and death, and it changes over time, Nightingale said. Even if you got the vaccine previously, the viruses change over time, and your immunity fades over time.

At the Allegheny County Immunization Clinic, people can get their flu and covid vaccines at the same time, along with a vaccine for RSV if they qualify.

A lot of people who are older would benefit from getting all of those, she said. You can actually get (covid, flu, and RSV shots) at the same visit, if you want.

Many people have been getting their covid and flu vaccines at the same time at the county clinic, she said.

Mostly its convenienceits one and done, she said. Some people prefer that if they have a little bit of side effects from it, they prefer to just have it all at one time. The vast majority, its because of convenience, that you only have to go to one visit.

Not too late

Its not too late to get a flu or covid vaccine for this year, Snyder emphasized.

Generally speaking for vaccines, it takes your body a couple weeks to get fully prepared, from the time you receive the vaccine until the immune system has had time to process that information. If you wait until influenza is already at its peak, youve missed the opportunity to fully protect yourself, he said.

Were starting to see the number of influenza cases pick up. There may still be a lot of time left in the seasonthere is plenty of time to have the benefits from the protection you get from the influenza vaccine. Its most definitely not too late.

Julia Maruca is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Julia at jmaruca@triblive.com.

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Why get your flu shot and covid booster at the same time? Experts weigh in - TribLIVE

A doctor uses a hand-held Doppler probe on a pregnant woman to measure the heartbeat of the fetus. Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP A doctor uses a hand-held Doppler probe on a pregnant woman to measure the heartbeat of the fetus. Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP

National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 4-8) reminds us that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu shot, including pregnant people. It is best to get vaccinated before the flu season starts, but you can get a flu shot at any time during the season and at any time during pregnancy.

Pregnant people are at higher risk of getting very sick from the flu, being hospitalized, or dying from flu-related complications. If a pregnant person gets sick with the flu, it can also cause serious problems with their pregnancy, such as preterm labor and birth.

Getting a flu shot is a safe way to protect both a pregnant person and their developing baby from serious illness and complications of flu. Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant people for over 50 years, and have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant people or their babies.

If you are pregnant getting a flu shot reduces your risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40%. Your flu shot also helps to protect your baby from flu illness and flu-related hospitalizations for the first several months after their birth. Antibodies you develop in response to the vaccine are passed on to your developing baby during pregnancy.

The best way to keep you and your baby healthy this flu season is to get your flu shot. For more information visit Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot.

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A flu vaccine is the best protection against flu for pregnant persons - Mshale

Vaccinating UK poultry flocks for avian influenza has been described as cost prohibitive because an EU surveillance requirement for swabbing and testing would set producers back 1,000-1,500/month for every shed housing immunised birds.

The true cost of vaccination was revealed for the first time at the British Free Range Egg Producers Associations (BFREPA) 2023 National Free Range Show in Telford.

See also:Livestock disease insurance what to look for in policies

Although the cost of the vaccine itself and its administration are unlikely to be high, the EU has set a high bar for its trading partners on testing flocks to ensure there are no silent infections circulating in vaccinated flocks.

Gordon Hickman, head of exotic disease control at Defra, says surveillance is the real killer in relation to the cost benefit of vaccination.

If we follow the requirements the EU has set out for intra- and third-country trading, it is very, very prohibitive in terms of cost, he says.

It would demand monthly visits from a vet to take 60 samples from every shed because each is classed as a separate epidemiological unit; these samples would be tested at a government-approved laboratory.

In addition, producers would have to have their first five or 10 dead birds tested weekly, for the lifetime of the vaccinated flock.

In your longer-lived production situations, that is every week from the point that you vaccinate, Gordon explains.

Although Defra supports vaccination provided it is properly managed, properly administered, we have a good surveillance strategy and our trading partners agree that it is the right thing to do, he says the department is not yet able to recommend it.

It is likely that producers would pick up the tab for vaccination unless the virus became a threat to human health.

Although 91% of eggs produced in the UK supply the domestic market, the UK has important overseas markets for the sale of primary breeder chicks, hatching eggs and meat and egg products.

This means the needs of trading partners would have to be met before a significant vaccine programme could be rolled out.

If that does happen, vaccines are likely to be given to day-old chicks in the hatchery.

Two doses may be needed in long-lived birds such as layers, ducks and turkeys, with the second dose given at transfer.

The biggest challenge with developing a vaccine for avian influenza is that the virus is constantly mutating.

This means vaccines developed now may not be effective against future strains.

This could cause problems in multi-age sites, because birds may not be vaccinated for the most current strain.

However, vet Ian Lowery, a partner of Crowshall Veterinary Services and consultant vet to the British Egg Industry Council, says some vaccines being used by other countries are proving effective.

There is no perfect vaccine, no vaccine that ticks all those boxes for us, but there are vaccines that we can work with, [and] relatively quickly if we need to.

How the cost would be shared within the industry would also need to be addressed.

If a layer farm vaccinated, some significant benefit would be realised by the broiler or duck farm down the road, but that is quite hard to rationalise.

How do we cost-share that between the various sectors that may not choose to vaccinate, but will fundamentally benefit on the back of it?

There is also a risk that if the government sanctions vaccination, insurers are likely to demand that their policyholders vaccinate.

A poll of poultry producers at the conference reflected current opinion on vaccination.

Before producers were advised of the cost and other considerations, a show of hands confirmed about 90% would consider vaccinating their own flocks; when they were later polled, not a single producer appeared to support it.

A Scottish egg producer whose entire flock of 192,000 layers was culled after birds tested positive for avian flu recommends that every farm should have a disease contingency plan.

James Baxter, who farms with his wife, Margaret, and sons, Andrew, Jonathan and David, near Stranraer, says their professionally designed plan was vital in securing an early payout from the Scottish governments compensation scheme.

It is an invaluable resource in a time of crisis, James says. It makes you think about disease during peacetime, when your head is clear.

It makes business sense; it keeps you up to date with current practice too.

The Baxters have 12 sheds on their farm and believe the infection was introduced by pigeons roosting on the chimney of one shed topped with solar panels.

It had snowed seven days before the first cases appeared, creating a viral soup around the chimney when the snow melted.

We believe thats how avian flu got into our farm, says James.

The disease was detected in only one of the sheds, where a mortality rate of 3.3% was experienced, but it required every bird on the farm to be culled.

In just two weeks, we went from flat out to nothing. All we had was two pieces of paperwork and an IOU from the Scottish government, he says.

At day 20, the business received full compensation from the Scottish government.

He advises other producers to have contingency planning in place.

For us, it meant we got sound advice on day one on how this situation would progress, so we knew what was coming.

He diverted egg collection lorries and a 54t feed delivery.

We would have had 28 pallets of eggs if the collection lorries had come, only for them to be destroyed, whereas we were compensated for them through our insurance scheme, probably saving us 30,000.

It also speeded up the paperwork trail, which advanced the valuation process by a day.

You dont get compensated for dead hens, but by moving the valuation forward more quickly, I would say that we saved 4,000-5,000 hens that we would not have been valued on.

James admits that the shock of becoming an infected premises was overwhelming.

Planning is essential for your mental wellbeing and the eventual recovery of your business, he suggests.

He also urges producers to notify their insurer every time there is a change in the egg price.

If the egg price goes up, get straight onto your insurance company if you are insured for loss of income.

There is a vague mention of price trends in insurance policies like mine, but there is a lot of wriggle room in that, and insurance companies do like a bit of wiggle room. That probably cost me 500,000.

He accepted a settlement offer from his insurer after 240 days.

The Baxters will be back in production on 8 February 2024, having opted to not restock for 12 months.

In the meantime, they are fitting spikes onto shed roofs to deter pigeons and other birds from future perching.

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Why avian flu vaccine rollout would cost 1.5k/shed a month - FarmersWeekly

AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians, residents, medical students and patients. From private practice and health system leaders to scientists and public health officials, hear from the experts inmedicineon COVID-19, medical education, advocacy issues, burnout, vaccines and more.

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AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, shares the latest on China's pneumonia outbreak and mysterious wave of respiratory infections. Also covering updates for flu season, COVID trends and RSV surges. AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger hosts.

Unger: Hello and welcome to the AMA Update video and podcast. Today we have our weekly look at the headlines with the AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia in Chicago. I'm Todd Unger, AMA's chief experience officer, also in Chicago.

Welcome back, Andrea.

Garcia: Hi, Todd. It's good to see you. Thanks for having me back.

Unger: It is good to be back from our holidays. The last time we talked, just before Thanksgiving, we were starting to see some surges in respiratory illnesses. Andrea, where do we stand right now after the holiday?

Garcia: Well, we know data reporting will lag a bit after the holiday, but most experts are expecting a post-Thanksgiving spike in illnesses as respiratory virus season picks up and we know fewer people are taking precautions. And that really goes for all three respiratory viruses we've been talking about, RSV, COVID and flu.

As you mentioned, before the holiday, we were already starting to see signs of surges. And according to CDC data, in the weeks leading up to the holiday, there was a sharp rise in RSV cases. And if we look at the CDC's most recent FluView report, the same can be said for flu most notably in the South Central, Southeast, Mountain and West Coast regions.

These increases are really expected to continue in the coming weeks. And we know possibly flu season can last into the spring of next year. Outpatient respiratory illnesses in general, which is a fever plus cough or sore throat, is above the baseline nationally for the third week in a row. And the number of weekly flu hospital admissions is also increasing.

Unger: Andrea, what about COVID?

Garcia: Well, prior to the holiday, the highest rates of positive COVID tests were seen right here in the Midwest, as well as in the Western states. And nationwide, COVID hospitalizations were up but still far below those pandemic levels.

According to the latest CDC data, COVID hospitalizations and deaths rose by about 9% during that week ending November 11. Overall, that's still low for this time of year when we compare that to previous years.

Earlier this week, though, CDC did release an update on BA.2.86, which is a COVID variant that we first saw the agency reference back in August. That variant is projected to now compromise about 8.8% of circulating variants, and that's nearly triple the estimated prevalence of two weeks ago.

At this time, the CDC says the expected public health risk of this variant, including its offshoot, JN.1, which we talked about last time, is low. But the agency will continue to track it as it steadily increases. And as we talked about in previous updates, tests and treatments are expected to be effective against this variant, including JN.1.

And at this time, it's not possible to know whether BA.2.86 produces different symptoms from other variants. But generally, we've seen similar symptoms across variants. And we know that in general, symptoms and how severe they are generally depend in part on a person's individual immunity.

Unger: Well, Andrea, given that information, would you say that it's time to worry?

Garcia: I think the problem right now is the lagging vaccination rates for all three respiratory viruses. And we know that health officials and clinicians continue to urge vaccinations to head off another severe respiratory virus season like we experienced last year.

But so far, those vaccination rates are not promising. Whether it's vaccine fatigue, misinformation, barriers to access, people are just not getting vaccinated in the numbers that we would have hoped for. And that, we know, could lead to crowded emergency departments and hospitals later this winter.

Unger: Well, let's talk a little bit more about vaccination rates. Where are we at this point?

Garcia: Well, CDC is actually making it easier to answer that question. And they recently created a weekly COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and a weekly RSV vaccination dashboard that helps ensure we're getting that accurate and timely information about vaccination against respiratory viruses.

The dashboards complement that existing CDC weekly flu vaccine dashboard. So all three of those dashboards are now available under the new RespVaxView page. And that'll allow people to monitor vaccination trends more easily. We're going to put a link to that page in the description of this episode.

So far, the data on that dashboard really reveals persistent disparities in vaccination coverage. That's based on race and ethnicity and geography. And it shows that COVID and flu vaccination remains low among children and pregnant people, which is concerning. So CDC is continuing to call on physicians to help improve those numbers, urge their patients to take advantage of the safe and effective immunizations as soon as possible.

Unger: Absolutely. And, Andrea, with COVID in particular, people can also test, of course, to reduce spread. And you mentioned earlier that the tests we have remain effective at detecting the new variants. However, for a lot of people, home test prices have become a problem, and in fact prohibitive once insurance stopped covering them. Do we have any options here?

Garcia: Yeah, the good news is the federal government is now offering a new batch of free COVID tests. So each household can order four more free COVID tests to be sent out by the federal government starting this week. As with those previous five rounds of government-issued COVID tests, orders can be placed online at covid.gov.

People who didn't take advantage of the last offer, which was back in September, can still order the four rapid tests made available then for a total of eight tests. It's really easy to order them. The only information you need is your name and an address to send them to. No health insurance information is needed.

I think it's also important to note that although some of these tests might arrive with expiration dates that have passed, the FDA has extended the dates for most approved tests. So users can check that true expiration date of the COVID test on the FDA's regularly updated site. And many of the reasons why testing is helpful are that it can narrow down which virus you have, which we know can help inform available treatment options.

Unger: Well, that's good news. And everybody order those free COVID tests, covid.gov, find out more information. Andrea, to your point about testing, we know that catching these viruses early is really important. Over the weekend, we also saw multiple headlines about an outbreak in China. It feels a little bit like deja vu to many of us. What's going on there and do we need to be concerned?

Garcia: Those headlines were triggered by a reported surge in respiratory illnesses in children in recent weeks. And news reports and social media posts really caught the attention of the WHO and members of ProMED, which is a disease tracking site run by the International Society for Infectious Diseases that health officials monitor for early warnings of potential emerging diseases.

Those reports did prompt the WHO to formally request that China provide information about the potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. The WHO said that Chinese health officials provided the data it requested last Thursday during a teleconference. And that showed the increase in hospital admissions of children were due to diseases, including bacterial infections, RSV, influenza and the common cold virus since October.

On Sunday, the country's health ministry confirmed this data, saying that the surge in illnesses were caused by flu and other known pathogens, not by a novel virus.

Unger: Well, I guess that's good news. It sounds a lot like the mix of things going on here. So I'm just going to summarize. Does that mean we don't have something to worry about at this point?

Garcia: Well, based on what's being reported, it seems we don't need to be concerned about a novel pathogen at this time. I think that concern was not necessarily unwarranted because we know the emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics typically start with these undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. Both SARS and COVID-19 were first reported as unusual types of pneumonia.

China lifted their COVID restrictions much later than most other countries. This is technically their first full winter since they removed those restrictions. Other countries, like here in the U.S., we saw that increase in respiratory diseases such as RSV when our pandemic precautions ended. The acting director of the WHO's department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention said these increases appear to be driven by the rise in the number of children contracting pathogens that they had avoided during the two years of COVID restrictions.

Unger: Well, we're going to certainly continue to keep an eye on that. Andrea, thanks so much for joining us and sharing these updates. That wraps up today's episode.

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