CDC Issues Predictions for Fall Respiratory Season, Schedules Upcoming COCA Call

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts a moderate COVID wave and typical waves of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this respiratory disease season, but warns that a strain on the health care system could be possible depending on various factors. They warn that though individual diseases may peak at different times, the respiratory disease season will likely peak higher than pre-pandemic seasons.

• COVID severity is likely to be consistent with last year’s severity, but timing of a peak is unknown and both severity and peak will depend on factors such as vaccine uptake and appearance of immune-escaping variants.
• Flu is predicted to be within the typical range of severity, but the CDC warns that flu season could peak early this year.
• RSV is anticipated to be typical in severity, but the CDC warns that it is challenging to anticipate RSV severity and peak due to a lack of data and models currently. Other factors such as RSV vaccine uptake will also have an impact.

LeadingAge NY and LeadingAge National encourage members to work with your pharmacy partners to ensure that you can offer vaccination for all three diseases in your communities. The CDC is reinforcing the need to be up to date with vaccines, which can provide life-saving protection against all three viral respiratory diseases. They recommend these vaccines for older adults, who are at a higher risk of severe illness from these diseases. Clinicians play a vital role in ensuring that older adults protect themselves by encouraging them to stay up to date on influenza, COVID, and RSV vaccinations.

To assist clinicians, the CDC will be holding a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call to update providers on Wed., Sept. 19, 2023 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET. During the call, CDC presenters will provide updates about the latest recommendations and clinical considerations for administering influenza, COVID, and RSV vaccines to adults 60 years and older and discuss resources and communication strategies that may help facilitate older adult vaccination. Information on how to register for this call can be found here.

Contact: Carrie Mosley, cmosley@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 147