By Dr. Stephanie Paulmeno, DNP, RN, NHA, CPH, CCM, CDP, Public Health Promotion Specialist
Will you be hosting a holiday gathering or joining in the upcoming holiday celebrations that bring such joy to all of us? Many of us are gleefully anticipating them, and it is a good thing…or it can be; it won’t be for everyone. We’ll get to see our loved ones and friends that we haven’t seen enough of over the last three years; perhaps like me, you’ll get to see a loved one, a son from across the country with whom I’ve not had in-person contact since COVID began three years ago. We can do this safely if we apply common-sense public health strategies. This can help assure that we can see those loved ones yet again after the holidays have passed.
The Thanksgiving gatherings gave rise to the increased case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID, influenza, and RSV. We knew this would result from unprotected family gatherings; our Connecticut population has still not adequately availed themselves of COVID-19 vaccines or the bivalent mRNA booster, nor of this year’s seasonal flu vaccines. The vast majority of us have opted not to wear masks or to socially separate in public places. Many symptomatic people, as well as those who will not test before gathering with others, choose to exercise their free will not to stay home and away from others. As it did following our Thanksgiving gatherings, these choices will translate into increased illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths for others (especially the elderly the very young, and those with underlying conditions) in the weeks following the upcoming holiday season. This is not precognition at play; it is science and knowledge of the spread of disease.
This doesn’t have to be the case. We can make family and holiday gatherings work if we use simple precautions and remind ourselves that we are our brothers’ keepers. What we are being asked to do is as much about protecting vulnerable others from us as it is about protecting us from infected others. Today, less than 2 weeks before the start of the Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa holidays, and our New Year’s celebrations; we have heard cautions repeatedly from television, radio and printed news across the country. We have been made aware of the high and rising numbers of cases of the three serious, incapacitating, and potentially deadly respiratory diseases that make up the Tridemic; COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The young, the elderly/infirm, and those with underlying health conditions are at the highest risk of contracting one or all of these diseases. If they do, they are at highest risk of severe illness and death. If they/we are unvaccinated/under-vaccinated the risk increases. Despite official, scientific, and public health experts informing we-the-people about the again rapidly rising cases, hospitalizations and deaths, who is listening? Who is taking the simple steps needed to protect ourselves and those we love? None of these asks are arduous or expensive and all are readily available. We can be completely symptom-free and still have and transmit COVID. Vaccines do not prevent us from becoming infected with the disease! They help you create antibodies so that you do not become very ill, require hospitalization, or die from that infection. Even if vaccinated, those with severe underlying conditions can still become ill, seriously ill, and die. Such conditions can impair one’s ability to effectively make the needed antibodies, so using common-sense safety measures is wise.
So what are these simple steps that can save your life, the lives of your loved ones, and the lives of total strangers?
• Home test yourself for COVID before attending a holiday gathering; stay home if you test positive
• Stay home if you have respiratory or other signs of illness even if you test negative; home tests have many false negatives.
• If you are traveling, be diligent in airports, on planes, trains, and buses, as well as in taxis and uber-like vehicles; you don’t know the health or vaccination status of those around you.
• Wear a mask and stay socially distanced if you will be in enclosed/indoor gatherings.
• If possible, ventilate the gathering areas (open windows/doors)
• Wash your hands often and use good respiratory hygiene practices when coughing and sneezing.
• Get vaccinated and boosted with the latest Omicron-targeting COVID-19 vaccine
• Get your influenza vaccine or high-dose flu vaccine if you are an older person or one with underlying conditions
The numbers of COVID-19, Flu, and RSV-infected and sick people are real, and they are rising. These numbers should shock you, and if not, why not? Many of us appear to have become immune to the impact of the scope of sick, dying and dead from these three infectious diseases; it is akin to the “slow boiling of the proverbial frog.”
• As of December 8, 2022 Connecticut has had a total of 1,011,129 cases of COVID-19; 11,603 Connecticut folks have died from COVID-19, many needlessly. For the vast majority of us, COVID-19 is a vaccine-preventable illness (CDC, 2022). Connecticut’s COVID-19 death toll increased weekly over the last four weeks by +31, +13, + 15, and +16 A total of 75 additional people lost to COVID since November 17th, 2022 (CT-DPH and Governor Lamont’s Weekly COVID Report). Misinformation and worse, disinformation about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is not victimless. People of all ages die and are left impaired when left unprotected against vaccine-preventable illnesses.
• As of November 26, 2022, Connecticut had approximately 6,000 flu cases, 102 flu hospitalizations, and its first influenza death during this 2022-23 flu season (Doyle, 2022-CT DPH)
• On November 22, 2022, Dr. Juan Salazar, physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center noted, “The emergency department has been bursting at the seams, and our critical care unit has been almost always filled to capacity.”
Dr. Tom Murray, associate medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, noted their RSV and flu cases to be climbing. “In early October, the hospital had a week with RSV cases in the low 20s and another in the mid-40s, but recently, cases have ticked up, with 89 recorded the week ending Nov. 12 and 79 reported the week before that.” We do not yet have an RSV vaccine so infection control measures are what we must use.
• First Selectman Fred Camillo, (Community Connections from Fred, 12-8-22) reported that Greenwich Hospital has 16 COVID-positive patients (none in the ICU) and that the Yale New Haven Health System has 157 patients across their five hospitals.
It takes about two-weeks for post vaccination immunity to build up, which makes many of our townsfolk who have remained unvaccinated or unboosted a bit late to the game, but developing immunity in-progress is far better that being unprotected or under-protected as a result of being unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
• The Health Department (3rd Floor-Town Hall) has some remaining flu vaccines for those 9 years and older which are available from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday-Friday while supplies last. Appointments are not needed BUT the Town Hall elevators remain out of order; those over 65 or with stair-climbing difficulties can call 203-622-6495 to make alternative arrangements. Bring your insurance cards (Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, & United Healthcare. Aetna insurance is NOT accepted. Those on Medicaid should call the number provided.) For those with non-accepted insurances, a $35.00 Seasonal Flu Vaccine fee, and a $65.00 High Dose Flu Vaccine fee will be collected at vaccination time. Credit cards are NOT accepted. Endorse checks to “Town of Greenwich”; cash in small-bill dominations is welcomed.
• Family Centers offers weekly vaccines and testing at Wilbur Peck Court.
• The Connecticut Department of Health provides public mobile vaccine clinics.
• Local pharmacies have COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters, and flu vaccines available Check your
pharmacy’s website.
Footnotes:
Doyle, C. 2022. CT-DPH Confirms Season’s 1 st Influenza Death: Officials stress the importance of getting the flu vaccine; CT-DPH. Press Release. CT DPH.portal.ct.gov
Macmillan, C., 2022, “Tripledemic”: What happens when Flu, RSV and COVID-19 Cases Collide. Yale Medicine. www.yalemedicine.org