As the remaining days of 2024 tick down, public health officials are hopeful people in Oregon will consider giving themselves and their loved ones the gift of health by getting vaccinated against respiratory viruses.
The holidays are a good time to get vaccinated against influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, health officials say. It’s often when circulation of the viruses is highest because people are gathering indoors for seasonal celebrations. In fact, Oregon Health Authority epidemiologists saw an increase in respiratory virus transmission following Thanksgiving, and they expect a similar bump following late-December and early January holidays.
“Every respiratory virus season has the potential to be a bad respiratory virus season, and activity levels we’re seeing for both influenza and RSV are telling us the 2024-2025 season is no exception,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. “Everyone should get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines now, and those in high-risk groups—infants, young children, older adults, and pregnant persons—should also get the RSV vaccine.”
Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV have all seen increasing activity in recent weeks.
While influenza activity remained low for much of October—the first week of October is considered the unofficial start of influenza season in Oregon—there was a slow but steady increase in percent of flu tests that were positive during November. Percent positivity went from an average of just below 1% during October to 5.7% by the week ending Nov. 30. It’s now 18.7%.
Hospitalizations for influenza also increased, according to OHA’s weekly Flu Bites report.
“Influenza season has definitely arrived,” Sidelinger said. “And, RSV isn’t far behind.”
After staying at or below 1% between the weeks ending Oct. 5 and Nov. 23, RSV test positivity has since increased to 3.2% for the week ending Dec. 14.
COVID-19 has also seen a bump in activity in recent weeks. Test positivity increased between the weeks ending Nov. 30 and Dec. 14, from 2.4% to 3.2%, according to data that comes from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), which collects voluntary reports of the total number of weekly aggregate tests performed and weekly aggregate positive tests from participating U.S. laboratories.
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients around the state steadily decreased between September, when it stayed at or just above 200 per day, and the end of November, when the daily count dropped below 100. But it appears, for now, to be on the rise again.
Effective tools to help people protect themselves are available, Sidelinger says. OHA continues to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ fall respiratory season campaign, Risk Less. Do More. The campaign aims to increase awareness of vaccines that reduce serious illness from respiratory viruses in high-risk populations and to limit the spread of these viruses.
The campaign covers who’s most at risk for severe illness from flu, COVID-19 and RSV, and gives facts about the vaccines that prevent these respiratory viruses, including addressing myths about their effectiveness and safety.
OHA also has been helping familiarize health care providers with national guidance that provides practical information on reducing the risk of respiratory viruses. The guidance highlights the importance of core prevention strategies people can use when local respiratory virus transmission is high. They include getting vaccinated, washing hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes, improving ventilation in indoor spaces, and staying home when sick. Additional strategies include masking, avoiding crowded indoor gatherings, and testing when sick, particularly for those at higher risk for complications from these diseases.
Additionally, OHA has encouraged health care providers to follow guidance for providing COVID-19 and influenza antiviral treatments, which, like immunizations, reduce the risk of severe disease.
Finally, OHA continues to recommend people follow state and national guidance that empowers individuals at risk for severe illness to limit, and prepare for, exposure to respiratory viruses and possible infection. The guidance includes the following:
- Know your risk. Talk to your health care provider about whether your age, vaccination status or medical condition makes you more susceptible to severe illness.
- Make a plan. Think about how you’ll protect yourself and those around you if you become ill with respiratory symptoms or your community’s transmission level changes.
- Take action when needed. Get tested if you have symptoms. If you test positive, contact your health care provider for treatment with antiviral medication; let those around you know they may have been exposed; stay home until fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving; wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask; and keep your distance from others.
“No one wants their holidays interrupted by a respiratory illness” Sidelinger says. “By following a few simple steps to prevent infection from influenza, COVID-19 or RSV, we can keep ourselves and our loved ones happy and healthy during the holidays, and beyond.”
Source: Oregon Health Authority