Respiratory virus season is in full swing, and so is the season for holiday celebrations when viruses are more likely to spread. It’s not too late to protect yourself and others from severe illness during the holidays by getting vaccinated, and to know you’ll be protected through the winter when people spend more time socializing indoors. Here’s the latest news for the big three respiratory viruses: COVID-19 transmission in Oregon has been steady over the past month with a percent positivity of 9.3% for the week ending Dec. 2. Omicron is still the predominant variant, and no single subvariant has emerged that is predicted to cause more severe disease. The rate of COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Oregon is predicted to remain stable through the first week in January. To protect against severe COVID-19 illness from variants currently circulating in Oregon and across the U.S., everyone 6 months and older should receive the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) transmission in Oregon is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 7.9% for the week ending Dec. 2. Some people 60 and older are eligible to receive the RSV vaccine after discussing it with their health care provider. Pregnant people between 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy (during RSV season) are recommended to receive the maternal RSV vaccine during September through January to protect their newborns, which is when babies are at highest risk for RSV. Some babies are eligible for the immunization nirsevemab to protect against RSV. Note: there is currently limited supply of nirsevemab across the country. Influenza transmission in Oregon remains low but is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 3.5% for the week ending Dec. 2. The CDC predicts a steady increase in flu-related hospitalizations in Oregon through the first week in January. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get a flu vaccination. Find COVID-19 and flu vaccines at Vaccines.gov. Most retail pharmacies offer the RSV vaccine (call ahead to confirm), which is covered by Medicare Part D, Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) and many private insurance plans at in-network providers. Call your insurer in advance to confirm coverage and learn about in-network options. Vaccines for all three viruses can safely be given at the same time, and if you get them separately, there is no necessary waiting period between vaccinations. Learn more about vaccine insurance coverage on our blog. Stay up to date on respiratory viruses in Oregon, including wastewater surveillance, hospitalization and test percent positivity data, by checking OHA’s Respiratory Virus Data dashboard.
