Dr. Tom Jeanne is Deputy State Health Officer with the Oregon Health Authority. 鈥淪ome have been talking about a respiratory鈥� trifecta鈥� this season or a 鈥榯riple-demic,鈥� but as we like to say in public health, every respiratory season is a bad respiratory season.鈥�
Jeanne said each of these pathogens are expected to circulate at higher levels than we鈥檝e experienced over the last two years.
Statewide, nearly 13% of those eligible have received the newest bivalent COVID-19 booster, which provides protections specifically against the predominant BA5 subvariant.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is the most common cause of lower respiratory infection in infants and young children. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets and direct contact. There is currently no RSV vaccine.
But, there is a flu shot to protect against influenza and Jeanne encourages getting one before Thanksgiving.
Jeanne explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has 鈥減laced incredible strain鈥� on our health care system, with RSV further straining systems. Influenza will only add to this burden. He added that good respiratory hygiene and masking indoors remain best practice prevention tactics against all three of the viruses.
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