The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging everyone to consider getting vaccinated against COVID, the flu, and RSV as cases of those illness are all up.
State Chief Medical Executive Natasha Bagdasarian tells us at the end of December, trends in respiratory illness reached the highest levels so far this season at both the national level and in Michigan.
“This is all really a trend that we expected to see,” Bagdasarian said. “We knew that after the holidays, after people traveled and gathered together with families, that in all likelihood we would see an uptick in these viruses, and that is exactly what we’re seeing.”
Dr. Bagdasarian says the state health department is seeing vaccination rates for both COVID and influenza down, likely the result of apathy. However, she says getting the shots is the best way to avoid severe illness or hospitalization. But isn’t it too late?
“We know that we’re seeing an uptick in those viruses, but this may not be the peak. Those infections may continue to grow. And so if you did not get your updated COVID or flu vaccine in the fall, it’s not too late to get them now.”
Bagdasarian says only 11% of Michigan residents have been vaccinated this season for COVID and 23.6% have been vaccinated for influenza. She notes it’s easy to get either vaccine, whether at a health department, a doctor’s office, or a pharmacy. You can get those shots for free in many cases if you don’t have insurance.
Bagdasarian says the RSV vaccine is also recommended for infants and the elderly.
