A Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory was issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat against low vaccination rates for influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This warning comes as national and international respiratory disease prevalence has increased significantly in recent years in both children and adult populations.
Disregarding the vaccination guidelines for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV can cause significant negative health outcomes. This particularly affects at-risk individuals (including but not limited to infants, older adults, pregnant people, and immunocompromised individuals) among those who are unvaccinated. From November to December 2023, hospitalizations increased 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19, and 60% for RSV in all age groups. Weekly percentages of pediatric emergency department visits due to pneumonia have steadily increased since September 2023.
The health advisory urges healthcare providers to remind their patients of the importance of vaccines. Healthcare providers should administer the seasonal influenza and updated COVID-19 immunizations to everyone 6 months and older. To protect infants against RSV-related diseases, pregnant people 32-36 weeks gestation can receive the RSV vaccine and Nirsevimab is recommended for infants <8 months.
By Maya Yorks