According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of acute respiratory illnesses that cause Americans to seek health care is high.
In an update released Friday, the CDC announced that in addition to an increase in Covid-19 activity from low levels in much of the United States, seasonal flu activity continues to increase and is rising in much of the country.
The CDC predicts that Covid-19 rates will continue to rise in the coming weeks, as they typically do during the winter. The Covid-19 test positivity rate across the United States increased from 7% to 7.1% from the week ending December 21, 2024, to the week ending December 28, 2024.
Meanwhile, the flu test positivity rate increased from 12% to 18.7% during the same period. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) are the main viruses reported, the CDC says.
Related: COVID-19 cases surge across U.S. after holidays amid low booster use
Additionally, the CDC said positivity rates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are considered “very high” in many areas of the country, especially among young children. Children had the highest number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, while hospitalizations among older adults increased in some areas, the report added.
Although high rates of acute respiratory illnesses prompt people to seek health care, vaccination coverage for these three diseases remains low. According to the CDC, Covid-19 and flu vaccination coverage is low for both adults and children. Likewise, RSV vaccination coverage among adults remains low, the CDC said.
Overall, peak hospitalizations for Covid-19, influenza and RSV combined during the fall and winter virus seasons are expected to be similar to or lower than last year, the CDC said. However, peak hospitalization rates for all respiratory viruses are likely to remain well above pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, the report said.
As part of its fall and winter immunization guidelines, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2024-25 Covid-19 vaccine. The agency added that vaccination is especially important for those at higher risk for severe disease, such as adults 65 and older, people with certain health conditions, nursing home residents and pregnant women.
The agency also recommends that people who are immunocompromised or 65 and older receive another dose of the 2024-25 Covid-19 vaccine six months after the first dose.
Meanwhile, the agency recommends that the RSV vaccine protects adults 75 and older, adults between 60 and 74 with certain health conditions, and people living in nursing homes. Currently, older adults are required to receive the RSV vaccine once, rather than annually.
Last September, a study released by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that less than half of Americans planned to get a Covid-19 vaccine in 2024, and just over half planned to get a flu shot.
