The assertion appeared to supply an assurance that different vaccines weren’t topic to the brand new restrictions. “Changes concerning seasonal vaccines like COVID and influenza don’t change the Department’s coverage or messaging concerning childhood immunizations,” it learn.
This flu season, the health department has reportedly canceled commonplace vaccination occasions and clinics. On social media, the department has averted mentioning flu shots in posts in regards to the flu, as a substitute advising individuals to clean their fingers and canopy their coughs.
While Louisiana is seeing an early surge in influenza, the remainder of the nation is on an upward pattern in what seems to be a normal-looking season to date. Nationally, the share of physician visits that have been for ILIs is 3.8 p.c, with the upswing in ILI exercise much like what was seen in the 2019–2020 flu season at this level in the 12 months. At the height of flu seasons, the share of visits for ILIs often tops out round 7 p.c to eight p.c.
Credit:
CDC
Two kids died final week of flu, bringing the season’s complete pediatric deaths to 4. In the 2023–2024 season, 206 kids died with influenza-associated illness. Most of the deaths occurred in early 2024.
COVID-19 can also be ramping up a winter wave. While commonplace illness burden indicators—hospitalization and deaths—are low, they’re trending optimistic. Wastewater surveillance, in the meantime, is displaying a steep incline, with ranges of the virus being detected at “average” ranges.