2023-12-14 19:56:14
(Adds details on vaccination and context in paragraphs 5-7)
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert on Thursday urging healthcare providers to increase vaccination coverage for influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The health regulator said low vaccination rates, coupled with continued increases in respiratory disease activity, could lead to more severe illness and increased pressure on healthcare capacity in the coming weeks.
Health care providers should recommend antiviral medications for influenza and COVID-19 to all eligible patients, especially older adults and people with certain underlying conditions, according to the CDC.
Over the past four weeks, hospitalizations across all age groups have increased by 200% for flu, 51% for COVID-19 and 60% for RSV, according to CDC data.
There were 7.4 million fewer doses of flu vaccine administered to adults in pharmacies and doctor’s offices compared to the 2022-2023 flu season.
Nearly 16% of U.S. adults ages 60 and older have taken an RSV vaccine and 36% of U.S. adults ages 65 and older have taken a COVID-19 shot for the 2023-2024 period.
Pfizer PFE.N approved COVID and RSV vaccines in the United States, while Moderna MRNA.O and Novavax NVAX.O updated COVID vaccines that are approved in the country.
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