Viruses don’t respect the holidays

Concerns persist about the “tripledemic”—the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—three respiratory viruses that are happening all at once. They can hit people hard. While everyday life has opened up a lot as the COVID pandemic started winding down, people are still getting sick in record numbers. So taking some simple precautions during holiday gatherings and activities is in order.

Although we’re all dealing with “virus fatigue,” with its own set of emotions, we need to continue to be vigilant and make responsible choices for ourselves and others, healthcare providers at UHS advise. There are some ways you can find alternatives to traditional gatherings, if people you know are ill or you don’t feel comfortable joining large groups. 

Nationwide, coronavirus case rates and hospitalizations have spiked by 56 percent and 24 percent, respectively, in recent weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have already been 13 million illnesses and 7,300 deaths from flu this season, and those numbers are expected to rise in the coming months. (Over the past decade, annual flu deaths have ranged from 12,000 to 52,000 people, with the peak in January and February.) And, while RSV finally appears to be on the decline, infection rates are still high across much of the country.

With the arrival of the holiday season, many individuals spend more time with their children, other family members and friends. But sometimes good cheer isn’t the only thing that’s spread. 

For example, every year millions of children nationwide get sick with flu and thousands are hospitalized as a result. Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting the shot every year is the best avenue to prevention.  Flu vaccines are the only vaccines that protect against flu and are proven to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.

A growing concern among healthcare experts is RSV, a common virus that affects the airway and lungs. Most people develop only mild, cold-like symptoms and get better in a few weeks. However, for some people it can cause serious illness. If you are concerned about RSV, talk with your provider right away.

The CDC officially advises wearing a mask on a county-by-county basis depending on community COVID levels, which take into account virus-related hospital admissions, bed capacity and case rates. Rates of COVID, flu and RSV “may be more intense or a little bit less intense in some parts of the country, but really, the entire country is being affected,” said William Schaffner, MD, a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

As a result, he urged anyone who lives in a high-risk household to “put your mask back on” when in public spaces. High-risk households would include those with adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, people with a pre-existing condition such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, and anyone who is immuno-compromised.

Holiday time is a good time to mask, medical experts say.  Given where we are right now with the “tripledemic,” anything that people can do to slow down community transmission is going to be helpful.

The CDC further noted: “Rates of influenza and other respiratory viruses essentially flattened during the 2020 and 2021 winter seasons, largely attributed to the protections the country took to prevent the spread of COVID.  What the coronavirus has shown us, because we’ve been social-distancing and mask- wearing, is that influenza, the common cold viruses and RSV are suppressed remarkably by small changes in individual behavior.

The “tripledemic” won’t take holiday time off, so don’t take an unnecessary long-term risk for the sake of a single day’s activities. Certainly, UHS recommends being fully vaccinated and boosted, and continuing with proven practices like mask wearing and frequent hand washing.

You still have time to get vaccinated against the flu. UHS joins with the CDC in urging people to get a flu shot if they haven’t done so already.  This year’s flu vaccine has a nearly 50 percent efficacy against hospitalization for the major strain of the flu, according to the CDC. Healthcare providers are seeing a concerning uptick in cases of influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year. 

Call your primary care provider or your child’s pediatrician to make an appointment and visit nyuhs.org for information about the locations of UHS’ primary care and pediatric offices. The vaccine is also available at UHS pharmacies, including the UHS Specialty Pharmacy at UHS Binghamton General Hospital, 10-42 Mitchell Avenue in Binghamton. 

If you are not feeling well, UHS Walk-In Centers are available to get checked out. Click here to learn more about locations, hours of operation and services. You can always do a virtual walk-in appointment too, head to nyuhs.org to start one now.

This holiday season, spread cheer, not the flu.