County leaders are pushing the flu vaccine as they see a higher number of illnesses earlier than usual, raising concerns of added pressure on medical facilities after a previous influx in patients from other circulating respiratory viruses.
Onondaga County's influenza case rate jumped 84% in one week, according to the most recent state data. The county's current rate of 180 cases per 100,000 residents is lower than the statewide figure of about 230, but the county's top public health official said the sharp increase is putting added pressure on the health care system.
Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson said an earlier surge from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which largely affects children, is lessening. But she said the spread of flu amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is worrisome.
"If this rate of transmission continues at the same pace, we're in for a very challenging year indeed," she said at a Monday news conference.
Anderson, joined by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, said residents can better protect themselves during the busy holiday season with a flu shot. To demonstrate, McMahon rolled up his sleeve and received the vaccination, which Anderson said is well matched to this year's virus.
"The flu vaccine can prevent severe illness and death. But according to New York State, fewer of us are getting the flu vaccine this year than ever before," Anderson said.
She said some vaccinations rates for Covid are also low, particularly among older populations that are at a higher risk of complications from coronavirus in addition to influzena. Anderson said only one in four seniors have received the updated Covid booster shot.
"This suggests that there's a real significant burden of death and disease ongoing, particularly amongst our seniors, which could be preventive," Anderson said.
But others are having a hard time finding vaccines. Anderson said some families reported issues with getting the flu shot for children under 3 years old.
"This is in part because demand has been low," Anderson said. "The logistics of rolling that out at individual physicians' offices and pharmacies has been too prohibitive for them to offer just a select number of vaccinations to this young age group."
She said the county hosted two past vaccine clinics to fill the gap, and would organize more if families continued to report challenges.
