"Last year, which saw the largest summer spike since 2022, COVID activity maxed out in early August.
"COVID
is also increasingly a reason why people are seeking urgent medical
care. For the week ending Aug. 17, COVID diagnosis was the reason why 4.04% of children in California up to age 11 were in the emergency room — up from 1.02% during the last week in June.
"COVID
was the reason why 2.25% of people age 75 and older were in the
emergency room over the same period, up from 1.13% during the last week
of June, state data show.
So what? The pandemic emergency is over
"The
rise in COVID comes as the disease has receded as a major worry from
the minds of many, with fewer people getting annual COVID vaccines and
even fewer wearing masks in any setting.
"Still, COVID can result
in significant illness — a “razor blade” sore throat and miserable cough
for some and hospitalization and even death for the very young, very old and chronically ill.
"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 38,000 have died from COVID-19 for the season that began Oct. 1. During the same period, the CDC estimates the number of flu deaths to be at least 27,000.
"At the same time, long COVID and other related impacts of the coronavirus remain major issues. At least 17 million
adults and 1 million children have experienced long COVID at some
point, with 1 in 5 adult sufferers experiencing significant limits on
their daily activities.
"Other respiratory viruses, like flu,
can also cause serious illness and carry the risk of death, especially
for infants and toddlers, seniors, and those with chronic health issues.
What are the vaccine numbers like?
"Just 14.7% of California’s population has received the updated COVID-19 vaccine that first became available nearly a year ago.
"Uptake was greatest among the oldest Californians, with 37.2% of state seniors age 65 and up getting the vaccine.
"For
those ages 50 to 64, 17.7% have gotten their shot, as have 9.5% of
younger adults ages 18 to 49. Among children ages 5 to 11, 5.9% have
been vaccinated, and for those younger than 5, 3.2% have been vaccinated
with the latest COVID-19 vaccine formula.
"Vaccination rates also
vary by geography. Among all age groups, 24.8% of the population of the
nine-county San Francisco Bay Area have received the updated COVID-19
vaccine. Among seniors age 65 and up, 51% got the updated vaccine.
"Across
Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura
counties, 12.5% of residents of all ages have received the updated
vaccine; among seniors age 65 and up, 33% got the inoculation.
"The
California Department of Public Health continues to recommend that
everyone age 6 months and older stay up to date on their COVID-19
vaccinations.
“This is particularly important for higher-risk
individuals, such as infants and toddlers, pregnant individuals, older
persons, and others with risks for serious disease,” the department
said.
"The department’s advice resembles the CDC’s past guidance, which has
changed since the start of the second Trump administration and the appointment of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the CDC’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.
"The
CDC now says it offers “no guidance” as to whether healthy pregnant
women should get the COVID vaccine, and asks parents of healthy children
to talk with a healthcare provider before getting the COVID vaccine for
their youngsters.
"Mainstream medical organizations, like the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, continue to
recommend that people receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine at any point
during pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants
and children ages 6 months to 23 months get the updated COVID vaccine,
since they are at high risk of severe illness should they get COVID, and
that the vaccine should be offered for children age 2 and older if
their parent wishes.
"Some doctors, including Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco
infectious diseases expert, have suggested that people who haven’t been
vaccinated in more than a year, and are at risk for severe complications
should they get COVID, get vaccinated with the currently available
shots now.
"Chin-Hong noted that the 2025-26 version of the COVID
vaccine should be “relatively the same formula” as the 2024-25 version.
“It’s less important to wait,” he said.
"Eligibility for the new
vaccine has been delayed by the Trump administration, and it isn’t clear
when it’ll become available or who will be eligible outside of older
people and those with chronic health conditions.
"Some pharmacy
chains and health providers have paused online scheduling of
appointments for COVID-19 vaccines until the 2025-26 version is
released, presumably later this year.
"But at least one chain, CVS, says all of its pharmacies nationwide
offer the 2024-25 version of the COVID-19 vaccine and that it is
available on a walk-in basis.
“All CVS Pharmacy locations across
the U.S. currently offer the COVID-19 vaccine. We’ll continue to offer
to eligible patients, as determined by the [Food and Drug
Administration] and CDC, until an updated 2025-2026 vaccine is
released,” CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said in a statement to The
Times.
“Digital vaccination scheduling is paused temporarily, but we are still offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations,” Thibault said.
What might the rest of the summer look like?
"Officials note that the spread of COVID appears to be less severe this summer compared to last.
"Across
California, levels of the coronavirus detected in wastewater are about
20% lower than the peak of the 2023 summer wave, and about 50% below the
height of the 2024 summer wave, the state Department of Public Health
said.
"For this time of year, COVID hospitalizations are currently
considered low, based off thresholds “established from the data from
the past five seasons,” the department said. “Deaths are also lower than
previous seasons.”
What can I do to protect myself?
"Here are some steps those concerned about COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases can take:
•
Get vaccinated now, especially if you’re at higher risk of severe
complications from COVID-19 and haven’t received a vaccine in more than a
year.
• If you do get sick with COVID-19, talk with a medical provider about getting an anti-COVID drug like Paxlovid, which can reduce the duration of illness and alleviate symptoms.
• Stay away from sick people.
•
Wear a well-fitting mask, like a KF94 or an N95, in indoor public
settings — or perhaps at least carry one with you if you’re traveling,
so you can wear it if someone is coughing on a plane. “Now’s a good time
to mask in indoor public places if you’re in a high-risk group,” wrote
Dr. Matt Willis, former public health officer for Marin County, on the
“Your Local Epidemiologist in California” blog.
• Optimize indoor air quality — opening a window helps!
• Test if you’re ill with COVID-like symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.
And here’s some advice about flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV:
• Health officials recommend everyone age 6 months and older get the flu shot for the upcoming season.
• The vaccine for RSV is recommended
for all adults age 75 and older and those ages 50 to 74 who are at
increased risk for RSV. People who have already received the RSV vaccine
in recent years don’t need another dose at this time.
• Pregnant
women should also get a single dose of an RSV vaccine during weeks 32
through 36 of their pregnancy, sometime between September through
January."
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