If you are planning to receive your flu, RSV, or COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time!
Alameda Health System (AHS), which includes Alameda Hospital, saw an uptick in COVID-19 cases in August and September, driven by the new “Stratus” variant. Next comes respiratory virus season.
“The swell of seasonal COVID-19 cases appears to have peaked in Alameda County and is now on the decline,” says Dr. Deborah Ellis, AHS Director of Infection Prevention and Control. “We are hopeful this trend continues. But we are headed into respiratory virus season, which officially begins November 1 and runs through April 30. Experts project that we will see similar rates of RSV and flu this year as we did last year.”
Flu, RSV, and COVID often cause similar symptoms, making it difficult to distinguish one infection from another without testing. Your best protection is vaccination against all three.
This year, changes in federal vaccine guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caused confusion about vaccine eligibility and access. It is important to remember that federal recommendations are guidance, not law. States may adopt stricter public health policies and can issue their own immunization directives.
Last month, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii formed the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) to issue coordinated vaccine recommendations for the respiratory virus season. The WCHA was created in response to concerns about declining trust in the CDC, and it ensures consistent guidance across our region. California also recently enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 144, a law requiring the state to base immunization guidance on recommendations from independent medical organizations, rather than relying solely on the CDC.
The WCHA recommends that all people older than six months receive the flu vaccine, people younger than eight months or over 75 years old receive the RSV vaccine, and that children six to 23 months and adults over 65 receive the COVID-19 vaccine—with additional guidelines for pregnant people and those with risk factors. See the detailed recommendations here.
For our community, this means broad access to flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines. They are available at retail pharmacies, health system clinics, and local health departments. AB 144 also requires that insurers regulated by the state of California, which includes Medi-Cal and most private insurance plans, cover the WCHA recommended vaccines.
To further support community health, Alameda Hospital is hosting a free Community Health Fair on Saturday, October 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the hospital parking lot at 2070 Clinton Avenue. Free flu shots will be available for everyone over six months of age. The event will also feature free bike helmets for children under 12, health screenings, information on stroke prevention and emergency preparedness, and other health and wellness resources. We encourage you and your family to join us.
“Vaccinations are among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century,” Dr. Ellis emphasizes. “They have been so effective that many generations have never witnessed the devastation caused by diseases before vaccines. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community—get vaccinated this season.”
Healthy Alameda is a healthcare column provided by Alameda Health System (AHS), the public safety-net health system that serves all in Alameda County. AHS operates five facilities in the City of Alameda, including Alameda Hospital, Creedon Advanced Wound Care Center, Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness, South Shore Rehabilitation and Wellness, and Marina Wellness and Surgical Associates.
