SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – COVID-19 infections among children have doubled across the United States in the last 8 weeks, and other respiratory viruses like the flu aren't far behind.
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Even before the pandemic, the winter season was rife with cases of flu and colds. This year, cases might seem higher because in the last two winters people were more cautious, wearing masks and keeping distanced.
"It just shows you how COVID-19 was so transmissible because it was still raging while the other viruses were not as prevalent," said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of health and infectious diseases, pediatrics, and epidemiology and population health at Stanford University on KCBS Radio's "Ask an Expert" with Eric Thomas on Friday.
This year everyone went back to school, back to work, back to gathering together without taking the same precautions as they were in the previous two years.
"We just saw these viruses pop up again," said Maldonado. "They never really disappeared, they were just laying low."
While it would help many people to get the new bivalent vaccine for COVID-19, the rate of those actually getting the booster remains relatively low.
"We have just seen very few people go back out and get their primary vaccine," she said. "Less than 15% or so of Americans have gotten their boosters."
One factor might be that at this point there is so much immunity out there around the country at this point, so if people are getting sick, their case is much milder than it might have been before.
But long-term effects are still a concern, and health experts are still tracking long COVID-19.
As for the flu vaccine, the shot has been recommended for everyone ages six months and older for many years now.
"It really is a staple of winter vaccinations," said Maldonado. "Unfortunately for all of us, because the influenza virus mutates every year we all require a booster every year."
Young children are at risk for hospitalization, not just adults, but older adults are more at risk.
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