Vaccinations are available locally and are extremely important during the evolving season of respiratory illnesses currently in our county, according to Washington County Health Department officials.
“Vaccination rates against flu, COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are all low, which alongside ongoing increases of respiratory illness activity globally is the perfect storm for more severe disease in our community,” says Earl Stoner, health officer at the health department. “It’s crucial that immunizations that are available now in our county are getting into the arms of the most vulnerable members of our population.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu, COVID-19 and RSV were responsible for sending more than two million people to the hospital and causing more than 260,000 deaths last year.
Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV can result in severe disease, especially among unvaccinated people. Adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant people and people with underlying medical conditions are at highest risk for severe illness.
“For the first time ever, immunizations are available against all three of these viruses, to help protect people from the worst of the illness and shorten the time they are sick,” says Stoner, “and many local clinicians and pharmacies have these shots available.”
Vaccines.gov will help a person find available COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the area. Uninsured and underinsured adults can receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to them through CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which has provided supplies to several national pharmacy chains. Pregnant people and older adults can use the manufacturer’s website (Pfizervax.com) to find a location offering the Pfizer Abrysvo RSV vaccine.
Vaccination coverage for the seasonal 2023-2024 influenza vaccine is low in all age groups compared with the same period of the 2022–2023 season. Vaccination coverage for the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine remains low. According to the CDC, key reasons for low vaccination uptake of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines based on survey results from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, include:
- lack of provider recommendation,
- concerns or issues about unknown or serious side effects,
- occurrence of mild side effects and
- lack of time or forgetting to get vaccinated.
“These vaccinations are safe, available and the most effective way to keep your families healthy,” says Stoner.
Also important, says Stoner, are the conversations on preventative measures to reduce their risk for contracting or spreading these illnesses – getting tested, covering coughs and sneezes, staying at home when sick, improving ventilation at home or work, washing hands well and often and even wearing a mask when around others.
At-home COVID-19 test kits and KN95 masks continue to be offered at no cost to the public for pick up in the lobbies of both health department locations – 1302 Pennsylvania Ave., and 925 N. Burhans Blvd., in Hagerstown. As long as the supplies continue to come in, the health department will offer these resources.
The Washington County Health Department’s website – washcohealth.org – and social media pages are updated regularly on the current respiratory illness season.
Find the latest CDC data on respiratory illnesses in our area here: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html
