Upper Missouri District Health Unit Urges Respiratory Immunizations
UMDHU is encouraging you to choose to be immunized against respiratory infections. Depending on your age and health factors, these could include influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.
Respiratory infections are often a seasonal pattern, with more cases in late fall and winter. During the 2023-2024 season, these viruses placed a heavy burden on families and health care systems.
People with certain chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, children under five, American Indians, and those older than age 65 are at higher risk of developing serious illness from respiratory infections. Immunizations may not prevent all infections but are the best way to protect against severe illness from respiratory infections. Everyone should act now and contact a trusted health care provider about immunization.
RSV Protection
We are in our second year of having immunizations available to protect against RSV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), RSV leads to over 14,000 deaths among older adults each year, as well as 58,000 hospitalizations in children five and under. RSV immunization can offer protection from a virus that puts millions at risk every year.
RSV immunization is recommended for adults 75 years and older and ages 60-74 years at high risk. RSV is also recommended for pregnant people during 32-36 weeks of gestation and only during months September through January who have not received a dose during a previous pregnancy.
The RSV immunization for infants is a preventive antibody that provides short-term protection against RSV and hospitalization for about one RSV season. All infants 8 months and younger entering their first RSV season whose mother did not get vaccinated while they were pregnant are eligible during the RSV season, which is typically October through March. Children 8 months to 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV, including severely immunocompromised and American Indian children. Parents and caregivers of infants are encouraged to have a conversation with their trusted health care provider about RSV immunization.
Flu Protection
All North Dakotans six months and older are recommended to be immunized against influenza before the end of October. Because influenza activity can increase quickly and it can take up to two weeks to have the full benefit from the vaccine, now is the time to protect from severe flu.
Research shows flu-vaccination reduces pediatric deaths from flu in half for children with underlying high-risk medical conditions and by two-thirds for healthy children. Influenza hospitalizations were cut in half for all adults (including those 65+years of age). Influenza hospitalizations dropped dramatically among people with chronic health conditions - by 79 percent for people with diabetes and 52 percent for those with chronic lung disease.
COVID-19 Protection
While COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low in comparison to 2021 and 2022, new variants continue to emerge, and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 are slowly trending upward nationwide. Updated COVID-19 vaccines will soon be available, and everyone six months and older is recommended to receive an updated vaccine.
We encourage everyone to contact their health care provider, local public health, or pharmacist for information about respiratory immunization availability in their area. UMDHU will be offering all respiratory immunizations this season as supply is available, please call with questions or schedule an appointment.
Juliet Artman, Prevention Team Program Manager says, “Protect what matters. Vaccinate today.”
Mountrail County walk in flu and covid vaccination clinics will be in New Town, Thursday, September 26th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the New Town Lakeside Senior Center; Stanley, Wednesday, October 2, October 9 and October 16th, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Mountrail County Memorial Building,18 2nd Ave SE; Tuesday, October 1st, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parshall Senior Center; Friday, October 4th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Plaza Senior Center. Visit us about an appointment for the RSV and other adult immunizations.
There is a fee for the flu shot and for the high dose flu shot (65 years and older) payable at the time of service. We will bill BCBS, Sanford, United Health Care, Medica, Meritain, Medicaid and Medicare Part B. Please bring your insurance card.
For more information, please visit our website www.umdhu.org.