Health Officials Urge Vaccinations

As respiratory virus season gets underway, infectious disease experts are urging Oregonians to take advantage of newly available, updated vaccines to stave off another wave of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hitting hospitals as they did last fall. Paul Cieslak, M.D., Oregon Health Authority (OHA) medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations and Katie Sharff, M.D., Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s chief of infectious disease say that updated COVID-19 and flu shots and new RSV vaccines could help blunt the effect of a respiratory virus trifecta as happened in late 2022.
Cieslak and Sharff also remind people that the use of masks in health care settings where patients at highest risk of severe disease are cared for, such as nursing facilities and hospitals, is “strongly recommended.” At this time, it is a recommendation, not a requirement.
“The potential for another respiratory surge that swamps our hospitals and health care system still exists,” said Cieslak. “Even before COVID-19, influenza and RSV could overwhelm hospitals in some regions of the state.” He noted that Oregon has seen a steady increase in COVID-19 test positivity since late spring, from 4.3 percent on May 27 to around 15 percent by September 16, and a doubling of COVID-19 hospitalizations since June 21. “Straining of hospital capacity will be an issue nationwide and perhaps more so in Oregon, where we are additionally challenged by the fact that we have relatively few hospital beds per capita,” Cieslak said.
While flu and RSV activity remains low, cases are expected to rise, as typical, during fall months, with students back in school and people heading indoors to escape colder temperatures and gather during the holidays. Sharff said that the Southern Hemisphere, which epidemiologists monitor for flu activity to help predict the coming season, had an early flu season that significantly affected unvaccinated children.
“I think the pattern of COVID-19 is still uncertain. We’re not quite sure if COVID is considered a seasonal virus, as we see surges both during summer and winter months,” Sharff said. “The important thing is if we see an increase in all three viruses at the same time, that is when we could potentially see it crushing our currently strained health care system.”
Both physicians say vaccination is the best way for people to protect themselves and those around them from infection and reduce the risk of severe illness–particularly for vulnerable individuals like older adults, and those who are immunocompromised or have underlying medical conditions–that could lead to hospitalization or death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) issued their recommendation for the updated mRNA vaccine a day after it was authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in mid-September. It has been formulated to target currently circulating variants, including the XBB-based Omicron XBB subvariants that account for more than 95 percent of cases, induce antibodies against a wide variety of COVID-19 viral variants and is expected to improve protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 infection.
The new COVID-19 vaccines, along with an updated version of the seasonal flu vaccine, are now available at some pharmacies and clinics. The rollout has been slow to start; however, more doses are expected to arrive in Oregon over the next several weeks.
A new RSV monoclonal antibody immunization for babies and toddlers called nirsevimab–known commercially as Beyfortus–will be released later this fall, and a new RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older is now available on the commercial market. The vaccines for all three viruses have been extensively tested and are considered safe and effective.
Insurance plans will cover the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover most ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost sharing (such as co-pays or deductibles). People can get their COVID-19 and influenza vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic or federally qualified health center. They can also search for a clinic by zip code by visiting vaccinefinder.org, 211info.org or calling 211.
In addition to getting vaccinated, health officials recommend people follow OHA and CDC guidance for COVID-19 exposure and possible infection. The guidance includes talking to your health care provider about whether your age, vaccination status or medical condition makes you more susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness; creating a plan to protect yourself and those around you if you become ill with COVID-19; and taking action (getting tested when symptoms are present, contacting your health case provider for treatment) when needed.
As a physician, parent and community member, Sharff said she’s discouraged to see a health care system like Oregon’s become overwhelmed during respiratory season, since it can lead to delayed care, canceled surgeries and long wait times in clinics and emergency departments. “I urge all Oregonians to consider the tools available to them to prevent respiratory infections this season,” she said.

Health Officials Urge Vaccinations

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