London, Europe Brief News – US sate health officials expressed concern over a unique mix of viral outbreaks could make for a hard Christmas season.
Public health experts are urging people to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19 before gathering with friends and family for the Christmas.
Even though some experts think this winter’s Covid surge could be mild compared with the last two, flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks — along with existing staffing shortages — could stretch facilities beyond their capacities, leaders worry.
It highlights an ongoing effort from health leaders to get Americans vaccinated and remind them of the health system’s limits.
“Most of the population — unfortunately — has forgotten about Covid-19 and moved on. As a result, we’re seeing a rise in cases and a rise in hospitalizations, and that worries me,” said Ali Mokdad, professor of global health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington told POLITICO. “Right now, with the rise of flu, RSV and Covid, our health professionals are exhausted.”
For some providers, this winter doesn’t seem that different from the pandemic’s early days when health systems were overwhelmed by the new virus.
Much of the U.S. seems to have moved on from measures intended to protect public health, but the mix of rising infections could continue to press health workers through the winter.
