Posted by: November 17, 2023 1:29 pm CST
MILWAUKEE (Taylor Mundo, Wis.) – As the holidays approach, so do respiratory illnesses.
“Scientifically, we’ve had an increase in hospitalizations, and within a week we’ve had an increase in hospitalizations for both respiratory syncytial virus and influenza,” said Tom Haupt, respiratory disease epidemiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Health. Double that.” “We had 60 people hospitalized with the flu, compared to 35 the week before.”
According to Haupt, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has hit Wisconsin and the Midwest hard.
“In terms of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations, we already have over 100 cases and only 15 days into the season, the outbreak is under control,” Haupt said.
The vaccine Nirsevimab to prevent RSV in infants is available in limited quantities nationwide.
“This is very frustrating for us. We had hoped that more children would be vaccinated with Nirsevimab, but that’s not the case,” Haupt said.
On Thursday, November 16, the CDC announced the distribution of more than 77,000 doses of Nirsevimab, but that won’t be enough for the millions of children waiting for the shot.
“We know that some providers, even large pediatric providers, are receiving very small doses, sometimes less than five. That doesn’t go very far,” Haupt explained.
However, there is another vaccine option for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks gestation to combat RSV.
“This will provide the baby with maternal antibodies once they are six months old,” Haupt said.
Meanwhile, health providers are asking community members to get flu and COVID-19 vaccinations immediately because numbers are currently lower than normal.
“It’s not too late to get vaccinated,” Haupt said. “To be honest, there are never enough people vaccinated.”
Because RSV vaccine is very limited, priority is given to infants who are at high risk for infection. There is also an RSV vaccine for people over 60, which doctors recommend getting along with the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.