CDC Alarm: Winter brings soaring COVID and Flu cases – Shocking low vaccination rates expose nation to triple threat!

CDC Director - Dr Mandy Cohen | Credits: Getty Images
CDC Director - Dr Mandy Cohen | Credits: Getty Images

United States: Despite a huge surge in the cases related to COVID-19 and flu, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Dr Mandy Cohen, outlined that there are high expectations that the rates will still witness an increase.  

The statement was released by Cohen following the commencement of the Winter season on Thursday. According to the reports by NBC News, she linked the increase in cases with a decrease in temperature.

While pointing out the current situation of flu cases in the United States, she mentioned, during an interview, that the nation has been witnessing a “sharp increase” in levels, particularly in the southern US. In regard to COVID, she mentioned that the cases and hospitalization had seen an upsurge nationally.

Furthermore, Cohen underlined that the health authorities are expecting cases related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to reach the highest point of the season. “We are seeing ESV peak a bit sooner, but we do not believe we are near yet at the peak of flu or COVID,” the director of CDC can be quoted saying, as per NBC News.

The decline in RSV tests in the US!

Dr Cohen stated that the recent stats have revealed that the number of weekly positive tests for RSV in the United States has fallen to around 16 percent as of December 9, compared to the previous week.

Visual Representation for virus

She furthermore emphasized that the three viruses had shown different patterns as compared to the last year – when “all seemed to peak around the same time.” Elaborating her comparison, she highlighted that last year, the flu infection rates started increasing in October and peaked in late November and early December, and a similar pattern was shown by RSV infections, which peaked in November.  

Along with this, in 2022, the cases related to RSV infections were reportedly high among children, which led to overwhelming hospitalization. The health experts cited that the major reason behind such a high number of cases was that many babies – who were born during the pandemic times – weren’t exposed to RSV in their initial years due to COVID-19 restrictions such as social distancing and masking.

However, this year, she mentioned that the experts are “not seeing any strains generally on our pediatric hospitals, so we think that this is a more typical season of RSV.”

JN.1 could raise concerns!

Cohen added that the infection rate of COVID-19 is similar to the last year, which she remarked is “good news.”

She was quoted saying, “Covid is causing the most hospitalizations and deaths of all the viruses, but it’s not seeming to be more severe than what we were seeing last year at this time, which is good news.”

Although she predicted that the new subvariant JN.1, which has been declared a ‘variant of interest’ by WHO, could lead to accelerated virus spread, it is to be noted that the official data revealed that the JN.1 variant accounts for around 21 percent of the COVID-19 cases.

The variant is more transmissible compared to other circulating strains, according to CDC director Cohen. However, vaccines are offering great protection against JN.1. She stated, “That’s exactly why we want folks to get the updated Covid vaccine because it does map to the changes that we’re seeing in the virus,” according to NBC News.

ALERT: Low vaccination rates for COVID-19, flu and RSV

COVID-19: Last week, the Center for Disease Control and Protection alerted healthcare providers about low vaccination rates for COVID-19, flu, and RSV despite a surge in cases.

According to the data by NBC News, just 18 percent of adults and eight percent (8%) of children – aged six months and above – have received updated shots against COVID-19. The jabs have been available since September and target the XBB.1.5 variant of the virus.

Visual Representation for COVID-19 test

Flu: A report by the CDC revealed that during the current year, flu shots have contributed to the reduction of flu hospitalization by 52 percent in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, the CDC estimated that flu shots have been taken by 42 percent of adults and 43 percent of children, whereas last year, the vaccination rate was 47 percent for adults and 57 percent for children.

Cohen cited a personal example and stated that she ensured that her children – aged 9 and 11, got the updated shots against COVID-19 and RSV.

RSV: As RSV is severely targeting the younger, older and vulnerable population, this year, only two groups – pregnant women and seniors aged 60 and more, were eligible for the vaccination. As of December 9, only 17 percent of the older adults received their vaccination shot, according to the CDC data.

For infants, the FDA approved an injectable RSV drug called nirsevimab, but its shortage was reported in October. It is reported that the manufacturers have made an additional 77,000 doses available in November, and in January, more than 230,000 cases will become available.

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