The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert on Thursday (December 14), urging healthcare providers to increase vaccination coverage for influenza, coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The CDC said low vaccination rates and a continued increase in respiratory infections could trigger more severe illness in the coming weeks and increase pressure on health care facilities.
The CDC reminds healthcare providers to recommend antiviral drugs for influenza and coronavirus to all eligible people, especially older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions.
According to the CDC, flu hospitalizations of all ages have skyrocketed by 200 percent in the past four weeks, coronavirus hospitalizations have increased by 51 percent, and RSV hospitalizations have increased by 60 percent.
Compared to the 2022-2023 flu season, pharmacies and clinics administered 7.4 million fewer doses of flu vaccines to adults.
In 2023-2024, only nearly 16% of U.S. adults aged 60 and older have been vaccinated against RSV, and 36% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Pfizer's COVID and RSV vaccines are approved for use in the U.S., as are updated versions of the vaccines made by Moderna and Novavax.