Governor Kathy Hochul discusses upper respiratory viruses on the rise

The New York State Department of Health is warning that COVID-19, Seasonal Flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases are rising in the state.

Health officials say as respiratory virus infections spread this fall and are expected to continue through the winter, they’re urging people to take steps to help stop the spread.

Earlier this fall, the State Department of Health (DOH) issued a Health Advisory Notice regarding respiratory illnesses to hospitals, local health departments, and other medical facilities. While not specific to any one virus, the notice highlighted increased hospitalizations from these types of illnesses and provides federal resources.

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Our best shot at protecting ourselves and fellow New Yorkers from respiratory illnesses continues to be getting vaccinated, staying up to date on boosters, and practicing good hygiene.”

The flu vaccine is available to anyone 6 months or older, and is strongly recommended for people with chronic diseases, young children, and individuals who are pregnant – all of whom have a higher risk of developing serious complications from influenza.

Health officials say the best defense against respiratory viruses is to receive the seasonal flu and COVID vaccines, stay up to date on COVID-19 boosters, practice social distancing, wear masks in crowded settings, and use proper hygiene, including frequent hand washing.

The Department of Health is monitoring regional hospital capacity and engaging hospital and health care systems that may be seeing larger than normal patient volumes in their emergency departments and inpatient units. If you are sick and exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory virus, consult your primary care provider.

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the new omicron boosters for kids as young as age 5.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the shots Wednesday, just hours after the Food and Drug Administration authorized them. Walensky made the swift decision without a meeting of the CDC’s independent panel of vaccine experts.

Children ages 5 to 11 are eligible for Pfizer’s omicron shots and kids ages 6 through 17 are eligible for Moderna’s shots two months after receiving their primary series or previous booster with the first generation vaccines.

Pharmacies can start administering the shots as soon they have doses. According to a company statement, Pfizer said it will ship to up 6 million booster doses for kids within the next week.

Pfizer’s new boosters were cleared for people ages 12 and up in September, while Moderna’s were authorized for adults ages 18 and older.

The FDA hopes the new boosters, which target the dominant omicron BA.5 subvariant, will provide substantially better protection against infection and disease compared to the first generation of Covid shots.

The FDA authorized the BA.5 shots for kids without direct human data on their effectiveness. The agency cleared the boosters based on adult data from a similar shot that targets the omicron BA.1 subvariant.

The agency also looked at clinical studies in kids who received the original vaccines as boosters.

The new boosters target omicron BA.5 as well as the original strain of Covid that first emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The FDA hopes the shots will provide durable protection even as the virus continues to evolve because they cover a broad range of mutations.

The first generation of Covid shots were developed in 2020 to target the original strain of Covid. They are no longer providing meaningful protection against infection and mild illness because they do not match the dominant omicron variant, which has mutated to evade the antibodies that block the virus from invading human cells.

According to CDC data, more than 11 million Americans ages 12 and older have received the new booster shots so far.

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster is now available in Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler issued a statement saying booster doses are common for many vaccines and that updated formulations are sometimes needed to provide the best protection against new variants of a virus.

The updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the CDC is designed to protect against original strains of the virus, which the former monovalent vaccines covered, and the Omicron variants that account for the majority of current new infections.

Schuyler said those who are eligible should get a new booster dose at least two months after completing their primary series or at least two months after receiving a booster. Pfizer’s updated booster dose is recommended for individuals 12 and older and Moderna’s updated booster dose is recommended for adults 18 and older.

The link for pharmacies offering the booster dose is available here:
https://chqgov.com/public-health/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

The Health Department is also offering bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to individuals ages 12 and older at the Health Department Office in Mayville, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are asked to call (716) 753-4491 to schedule an appointment.

Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced new guidance recommending booster doses for all New Yorkers ages 12 and older.

The guidance, following action by the CDC, recommends that people who received the Pfizer vaccine should receive a booster dose at least five months after their second dose. The previous recommended interval was at least six months.

In addition, moderately to severely immunocompromised 5 to 11-year-olds can receive an additional primary dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second dose. At this time, only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children ages 5-11.

Additionally, the CDC recommended the same change to a five month booster interval for the Moderna vaccine, which is only authorized for people 18 years and older.

Hochul also announced that all health care workers previously required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination under the Department’s August 26th Emergency regulation must also now receive a COVID-19 booster dose within two weeks of becoming eligible, absent a valid medical exemption. Consistent with the August 26th Emergency Regulation, there is no test-out option.

There are also new rules for nursing home visitations. Starting Wednesday, all visitors must wear “surgical”-type masks and must present upon entry a COVID negative test taken within 24 hours of their visit. Hochul said 952,000 tests and 1.2 million masks are being delivered to nursing homes by this week.