January 12, 2024- CDC data shows that fewer than half of U.S. adults have gotten a flu shot this fall and winter. Currently in the U.S., infection rates for respiratory illnesses including RSV, the flu, and COVID-19 are “high” or “very high,” according to the the Centers for Disease Control. Some hospitals, such as in Massachusetts, Illinois, and California, are beginning to require masks again, according to NPR, in an attempt to curb disease spread.
Physicians are urging people to continue to get vaccinated against respiratory illness. Health officials say that getting the latest flu and COVID-19 vaccines now can still protect people this season, according to NPR.
The elderly, immunocompromised, and young children are most at risk for developing severe respiratory illness, according to the CDC, and vaccination can help your stay healthy and protect at-risk groups.