As the colder weather creeps in this fall and winter, so does the threat of more sickness, including the flu and COVID-19.
The Delaware Division of Public Health announced last week that the flu has spread to each of Delaware’s three counties, including the state’s first pediatric case.
State public health officials advise people to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible since it takes about two weeks for the flu-defending antibodies to build up in someone’s body. Ideally, people should try to get vaccinated before Halloween or Oct. 31, DPH said.
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As far as COVID-19, the division’s monthly report released last week stated that deaths remain low and hospitalizations are staying steady. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data shows that the community level of COVID-19 in New Castle County is low, Kent County is high and Sussex County is medium.
During high and medium levels of spread, the CDC advises people to wear masks in indoor public spaces, especially if they are at higher risk of getting sick.
For COVID, the advice is similar to the flu: stay up to date on vaccines – as well as other good practices like washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, keeping a distance from others and covering any coughs and sneezes.
With the latest emergency authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna bivalent boosters – the updated vaccines that target the predominant COVID-19 variants – anyone from age five and up may be eligible for this booster.
To avoid confusion, providers are not giving the older version of the booster to anyone over the age of five. So, if someone signs up to get a booster and they are at least five years old, they will get the most recent bivalent one.
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Still, vaccine rates for the bivalent booster and the flu vaccine seem to lag. Delaware public health officials warn that communities could see a possible surge of COVID-19 in the late fall or winter if the pace of vaccination does not pick up.
This matches federal reports like a recent Commonwealth Fund study, which found that higher vaccination rates could prevent deaths, hospitalizations and billions of dollars in medical costs. If 80% of eligible individuals ages 5 and older receive their booster dose by the end of 2022, the study reported, it would prevent about 90,000 deaths and more than 936,000 hospitalizations, as well as save $56 billion in medical costs in the next six months.
However, if vaccination rates remain unchanged nationwide through March 2023, the study found that a potential winter surge in the United States could result in as many as 16,000 hospitalizations and 1,200 deaths per day.
Here are a few more things to know about staying healthy and avoiding both COVID-19 and the flu this fall and winter, according to information from DPH.
How do I make sure I get the most recent booster?
While public health officials emphasize that providers are only authorized to give the bivalent booster to those 5 years old or older, people can still educate themselves and ensure they are receiving this most updated vaccine.
DPH encourages people to ask the provider to show them the vial so that they can ensure it is the correct vaccine. The state has a flier on its website that shows the similarities between a monovalent and bivalent vaccine label.
“It is an important step in being an educated health consumer and advocate for your personal health,” a DPH representative said in a press release.
More details on the bivalent booster can be found at de.gov/boosters.
Can I get the flu shot and the bivalent booster at the same time?
Yes, people can get vaccinated for the flu and receive the bivalent booster in the same visit – and even in the same arm, though the shots must be at least one inch apart, according to DPH.
The CDC has conducted studies that show getting the COVID-19 vaccine or booster at the same time as the flu shot is safe.
Flu vaccines and bivalent boosters are available at DPH clinics, many pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers and some community events.
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To find locations for COVID vaccines, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine or vaccines.gov. For the flu vaccine, people can visit the flu.delaware.gov webpage.
Who is eligible for the bivalent boosters?
While the bivalent boosters were originally only available for those who are at least 12 years old for Pfizer and at least 18 years old for Moderna, that eligibility recently expanded.
Just this past week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer for the bivalent booster for ages 5-11 and to Moderna for their bivalent booster for those ages 6-17 who have received their primary series of vaccination at least two months earlier (a minimum of two doses of Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax).
Moderna’s bivalent booster for ages 5-11 will use the same product as the adult booster, just at a lesser dose. Pfizer’s bivalent booster for youth will come in a separate vial as it requires dilution, while the adult formula does not, according to DPH.
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone 6 months old and up.
What was flu season like last year?
During the 2021-2022 flu season, Delaware reported more than 2,700 lab-confirmed flu cases.
Over 150 individuals were hospitalized due to the flu and three people died from flu complications, according to state public health.
Recent data suggest that these numbers stand to increase with the start of this year’s flu season in the U.S.
While the exact duration of flu season varies, flu activity is known to increase in October and peak between December and February. The flu can also last as late as May, according to the CDC.
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How many Delawareans have received the bivalent booster?
The state Division of Public Health reports that 33,227 Delawareans have received the latest bivalent booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That is a little more than 3% of the state’s population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
For context, 71.6% of all Delawareans are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. That means they received two doses of a two-dose series like Moderna or Pfizer, or one dose of a one-dose series like Johnson & Johnson.
How many people have received flu shots in Delaware?
Only about 14% of the state’s population has received their flu shot as of Oct. 16.
DPH reports there had been 141,806 flu vaccines administered according to the state’s immunization system, DelVAX.
Reporter Krys’tal Griffin contributed to this report.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches, with a focus on health-related issues. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
