Messaging campaign to encourage back to school vaccines is underway; Kentucky vaccination rates are below U.S. average

Lexington-Fayette County Health Department graphic

By Melissa Patrick

Kentucky Health News

With just weeks left before school starts, it's time to make sure your school-aged children are up to date on required immunizations.  

Toward this effort, the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, the trade group for health insurers in the state, and Kentucky Voices for Health, a coalition of health advocacy groups, have partnered to roll out a messaging campaign to help educate families and improve student immunization rates. The partnership involves a 3-year, $360,000 grant from KAHP to be used toward building a stronger safety net in Kentucky.

"This back-to-school season is the perfect opportunity to talk to a provider and ensure that your family is caught up on recommended immunizations. If you or someone in your family has fallen behind, trust me, you are not alone," Kelly Taulbee, director of communications and development at KVH, said at a press conference to announce the partnership. " We encourage families today to work with providers and get the additional resources and an immunization schedule that's right for you and your children." 

Taulbee said the messaging campaign will involve TV commercials, radio ads and occasionally print. Asked if they would be targeting any certain region of the state, Taulbee said, " It's a relatively equal approach across the board as far as how we're messaging." 

Many Kentucky children are still catching up with routine vaccinations that were missed during the pandemic. The state's vaccination rates remain below the national average. 

"That puts our children at unnecessary risk and it strains our healthcare system," Tom  Stephens, president and CEO of KAHP, said at a press conference. 

Stephens noted that the recent outbreak of whooping cough in Lexington "underscored the urgency of this issue."  Last week, the state Department for Public Health reported 138 cases of whooping cough, known medically as pertussis, and said this level of infection had not been seen in Kentucky since 2016-17. 

"This outbreak is a stark reminder of what can happen when immunization rates fall," Stephens said. "It's not just about individual protection. It's about community immunity."

"Community immunity" occurs when enough people have been immunized against a disease to protect others who are not immunized. Some can't get vaccinations because their immune systems are too weak to allow them to get vaccinated, or because they are too young. 

Children can get their routine vaccinations at health clinics, health departments, pharmacies and doctor's offices, but it's important to make those appointments soon because school typically starts in August and students are required to provide up-to-date immunization records at the beginning of each school year, unless exempted for religious or medical reasons.

Taulbee noted that a law passed during the last legislative session allows pharmacists to continue administering immunizations down to the age of 5. "It's such a simpler access point that we want families to keep in mind," she said. 

Families can find a provider, including those that offer free immunizations through the Vaccines for Children program, by calling the Kentucky Infectious Disease & Vaccine Call Center at 855-598-2246, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET 

Asked about vaccine hesitancy, which has been fueled by the Covid-19 vaccine, Taulbee and Stephens both encouraged families to talk to their provider if they have any questions or concerns about immunizations. 

A recent Pew Research Center survey of more than 10,000 adults found that 88% of Americans believe the overall benefits of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine outweighs the risks, compared to 62% who believed the Covid-19 vaccine benefits outweigh the risks. Further, the survey found a drop in support for vaccine requirements for healthy children in schools, with 70% of those surveyed supporting the requirement, down from 82% in 2019 and 2016. 

Data from the School Immunizations Survey dashboard, which includes data for each school, show that during the 2023-24 school year, nearly 85% of kindergartners were up to date with all vaccines, 80% of seventh graders were, and nearly 54% of 11th graders were. 

The KAHP-KVH partnership will also focus on keeping children signed up for Medicaid as Medicaid renewals resume for them.  

"The renewal process is going to begin soon for the first time in four years for our children," Taulbee noted. "We encourage families to take this very seriously. Check your mail, watch and make sure you understand eligibility standards and keep your children covered." 

Fauci, facing Congress for first time since retirement, distances himself from aide who used personal emails for business

Dr. Anthony Fauci (Photo by Francis Chung, Politico)

Kentucky Health News

Dr. Anthony Fauci defended his actions during the Covid-19 pandemic before House lawmakers Monday and distanced himself from an aide accused of misconduct, Politico's Carmen Paun reports.

Fauci pushed back on claims by Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic that he tried to squelch the theory that the virus spilled over from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Fauci said that the theory isn’t a conspiracy theory, and that he has kept an open mind on the pandemic's origins, but has endorsed a theory that the disease came from an animal.

He said the research his agency funded at the lab couldn’t have created Covid. The Department for Health and Human Services has stripped the EcoHealth Alliance, the U.S. research group that collaborated on virus studies with Wuhan, and its president of federal funding.

Fauci, 83, was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, and chief medical adviser to President Biden from 2021 to 2022

Democrats and Republicans on the panel recently blasted longtime Fauci adviser David Morens, whom HHS put on leave for using personal email for official business. Emails the subcommittee released last month show Morens trying to shield correspondence.

In his first public Capitol Hill testimony since leaving the federal government, Fauci said Morens wasn’t part of his inner circle. “Despite his title, and even though he was helpful to me in writing scientific papers, Dr. Morens was not an adviser to me on institute policy or other substantive issues,” Fauci said.

UK has a new group to research infectious diseases, including treatment and prevention through community engagement

By Lindsay Travis
University of Kentucky

A new partnership between researchers at the University of Kentucky will combat the threat of infectious diseases through research directed at prevention and treatment.

The CURE-KY team: Front row left to right: Vincent Venditto,

Steven Van Lanen, Ilhem Messaoudi, Rebecca Dutch. Back

row: Feng Li, David Burgess, Beth Garvy, Richard Greenberg.

Not pictured: Krystle Kuhs. (UK photo by Jeremy Blackburn)

The Consortium for Understanding and Reducing Infectious Diseases in Kentucky (CURE-KY) will foster multidisciplinary collaborations to address the burden of infectious diseases in the state and beyond.

“I am thrilled by the boundless possibilities our collaborative efforts promise at the University of Kentucky,” said Ilhem Messaoudi, founder of CURE-KY and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics in the College of Medicine. “With a steadfast commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering transdisciplinary alliances, we aim to propel infectious-disease research to new heights, creating a healthier Kentucky and nurturing future scientific leaders.”

She added, “We have an excellent team of scientists here at UK and on our leadership team. Together we can tackle infectious diseases from an array of perspectives to make a difference in the health of our community.”

CURE-KY grew from, and took most of its acronym from, UK’s Covid-19 Unified Research Experts Alliance. It has experts from the College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Markey Cancer Center.

It will focus on research in five areas: microbial pathogenesis; vaccines, therapeutics and antimicrobial resistance; public health and community engagement; animal health; and engineering and systems. IT will also work to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation to foster trust between Kentuckians and the scientific community.

“From studying prevention, control and understanding transmission dynamics to assessing risk, promoting health equity and engaging communities in disease-control efforts, this work is critical toward our goal of creating a healthier Kentucky,” said Public Health Dean Heather Bush.

Dr. B. Mark Evers, Markey director, said “Kentucky is home to the highest cancer rates in the country, including several cancers caused by infectious diseases such as HPV and hepatitis C. . . . By better understanding and combating diseases that can lead to cancer, CURE-KY will contribute to this mission and make progress toward our ultimate goal of conquering cancer in the commonwealth.”

More information about CURE-KY and upcoming events is on on its website.

Repeat Covid-19 shots help ward off variants, even other viruses

Photo illustration

Kentucky Health News

The virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic is still here, sending thousands of Americans to hospitals each week and regularly spinning off new variants that can evade immune defenses, so public-health agencies recommend annual updates of vaccinations.

Some scientists have worried that the success of the first vaccines may undermine the utility of annual updates, much as the annual flu shot can interfere with immune responses in subsequent years, but a new study shows that Covid-19 vaccines don't do that, and actually "promote the development of broadly inhibitory antibodies," says a news release from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where the study was conducted.

Everyone who is 65 and over, or has medical conditions that make them more vulnerable, is advised to get a Covid-19 booster this spring.

The study, available online in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature, shows that people repeatedly vaccinated for Covid-19 — initially getting shots aimed at the original SARS-CoV-2 variant, followed by boosters and updated vaccines targeting variants — generated antibodies capable of neutralizing a wide range of virus variants and even some distantly related coronaviruses.

"The findings suggest that periodic re-vaccination for Covid-19, far from hindering the body’s ability to recognize and respond to new variants, may instead cause people to gradually build up a stock of broadly neutralizing antibodies that protect them from emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and some other coronavirus species as well, even ones that have not yet emerged to infect humans," the release says.

“The first vaccine an individual receives induces a strong primary immune response that shapes responses to subsequent infection and vaccination, an effect known as imprinting,” said Dr. Michael S. Diamond, senior author of the study. “In principle, imprinting can be positive, negative or neutral. In this case, we see strong imprinting that is positive, because it’s coupled to the development of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies with remarkable breadth of activity.”

Imprinting is the natural result of how immune-system memory works. A first vaccination triggers the development of memory immune cells. When people receive a second vaccination quite similar to the first, it reactivates memory cells elicited by the first vaccine. These memory cells dominate and shape the immune response to the subsequent vaccine.

The study suggests that regular re-vaccination with updated Covid-19 vaccines against variants might give people the tools to fight off not only the variants represented in the vaccines, but also other variants and related coronaviruses, possibly including ones that have not yet emerged.

“At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world population was immunologically naïve, which is part of the reason the virus was able to spread so fast and do so much damage,” said Diamond, a professor of molecular microbiology, pathology and immunology. “We do not know for certain whether getting an updated Covid-19 vaccine every year would protect people against emerging coronaviruses, but it’s plausible. These data suggest that if these cross-reactive antibodies do not rapidly wane — we would need to follow their levels over time to know for certain — they may confer some or even substantial protection against a pandemic caused by a related coronavirus.”

As new Covid-19 variants become dominant and boosters are needed, vaccine misinformation continues; here are the facts

Photo from Getty Images via Kentucky Lantern

By Sarah Ladd
Kentucky Lantern

In the last month, new Covid-19 variants emerged as the dominant strain in the United States.

Covid-19 vaccines are still recommended for protection against the virus, and everyone who is 65 and over, or had medical conditions that make them more vulnerable, is advised to get a Covid-19 booster this spring.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services says the KP.2 variant has already been confirmed in the state. Kentucky does not have any KP1.1 cases, cabinet spokesman Brice Mitchell said. These variants are in a group called FLiRT, after letters in the names of the individual mutations.

“These variants are not thought to cause more severe disease but do have some mutations in the spike protein that may make them more resistant to immunity conferred by vaccines and prior infections,” Mitchell said.

Kentucky has low levels of emergency-department visits and hospitalizations for Covid-19, but Mitchell said the state Department for Public Health “continues to recommend that all Kentuckians six months of age and older remain up-to-date with their Covid-19 vaccinations.”

A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Lantern that the CDC “continues to encourage Americans to get vaccinated, as the Covid-19 vaccination continues to be the best way to protect against serious illness.”

Despite that advice, not everyone is convinced. In the fourth year of Covid-19 — and about three and a half years since the vaccines arrived — misinformation about them persists, even among elected officials.

During the 2024 legislative session, vaccine misinformation — specifically around the Covid-19 shots — found its way onto the Kentucky Senate floor and into committee meetings. The Lantern consulted the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and other sources in response to several vaccine claims made by lawmakers this year:

 

Claim: “The deaths and adverse events recorded to the Vaccine Adverse Events Report System that are submitted to this (Covid) vaccine total more than all other vaccines combined, since the CDC implemented the reporting system in 1990.”

Response: This claim has been debunked multiple times by multiple sources.

After Covid-19 vaccines became available, adverse reactions reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System did increase, the CDC says, in part because so many people — more than 80% of Americans — received the shot. The 675 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine that have been administered in the U.S. are more than other types of vaccines. Also, under the emergency authorization for the Covid-19 vaccine, the FDA required health-care providers to report any adverse reaction in a patient even if it’s unclear the vaccine was the cause.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is a voluntary early-warning system. Anyone may enter information about side effects or other adverse reactions after a vaccine; the reports are not verified, but scientists use the data to spot worrisome patterns that merit investigation.

"Anti-vaccination fringe groups have attempted to spin false stories using VAERS data, adding to misinformation about the safety of Covid-19 vaccinations," says the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March found that the more likely a state was to vote Republican, the more likely its vaccine recipients or their clinicians reported adverse effects from Covid-19 vaccines. These results suggest that either the perception of vaccine effects or the motivation to report them was associated with political inclination.

Claim: “Covid-19 vaccines caused “unprecedented rise in sudden cardiac events, miscarriages and stillbirths, blood clots, myocarditis in youth, and sudden deaths among all ages.”

Response: Receiving the shot does not increase the risk of death from non-Covid causes. That conclusion is based on safety monitoring after more than 675 million doses of vaccine have been administered.

Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and not linked to an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, according to CDC safety monitoring and research. It has identified four rare but serious types of adverse events following Covid-19 vaccination. Two of them — thrombosis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome — were associated with vaccines that have been discontinued in the U.S. and are no longer available.

About 5 people per 1 million doses of vaccine have experienced anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate emergency medical treatment. It can occur after any medication or vaccination.

Also, an increased risk of myocarditis – inflammation of the heart – is associated with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Varying by age and sex, the rates of myocarditis after vaccination range from zero to 188 per 1 million doses. Research has found that the risk of myocarditis is higher following a Covid infection than after a Covid vaccine, according to the CDC.

CDC and FDA have detected no unusual or unexpected patterns indicating Covid-19 vaccines are causing or contributing to any other serious medical conditions.

Vaccination against Covid-19 reduces the risks of dying from Covid and suffering long Covid. The most common vaccine side effects are usually mild, such as soreness in the area where the shot was given.

Claim: “Pet vaccines are actually safer than people vaccines.”

Response: Animal and human vaccines undergo different approval processes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulates veterinary vaccines and the Food and Drug Administration regulates human vaccines.

According to a 2014 paper in the National Library of Medicine, the two “differ markedly.” Vaccine effectiveness is more highly studied in human vaccines than in animal ones, that study found.

What the FDA says: The FDA “takes its responsibility for ensuring the safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality of all vaccines approved or authorized for emergency use in the U.S. very seriously,” a spokesperson said.

All ingredients in new vaccines are looked at for safety and effectiveness. The “rigorous and extensive” approval process includes lab work, animal studies and human clinical trials.

“Highly trained FDA scientists and physicians thoroughly evaluate the information in a marketing application,” the FDA said, before ever approving shots for public distribution. Both pet and human vaccines are safe.

Fact Check: Contrary to social-media posts, there is still no evidence that Covid-19 vaccines increase your risk of cancer

By Catalina Jaramillo
FactCheck.org

It has not been shown that Covid-19 vaccines cause or accelerate cancer. Yet opponents of the vaccines say a new review article “has found that Covid-19 mRNA vaccines could aid cancer development.” That statement is based mainly on misinterpretation of a study on mRNA cancer vaccines in mice.

Clinical trials, involving thousands of people, and multiple studies have shown that the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are safe. Hundreds of millions of doses have been administered under close monitoring systems that have found serious side effects are rare. Studies have also shown that the vaccines work very well in preventing severe Covid-19 disease and death, saving millions of lives across the globe.

 
There is no evidence to support a link between Covid-19 vaccines and cancer, as we’ve reported. Both the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society have stated there’s no information that suggests COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer, make it more aggressive or lead to recurrence of cancer.

Yet, vaccine opponents falsely claim a review article published in April proves the contrary.

“A review in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules has found that Covid-19 mRNA vaccines could aid cancer development,” reads an April 16 Facebook post by America’s Frontline Doctors, a group that has repeatedly spread misinformation about the pandemic -- and whose founder was sentenced to 60 days in prison for entering the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. Other posts made similar, baseless claims.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines work by instructing a small number of a person’s cells to make specific proteins, which then prompt the body to mount an immune response. They use N1-methylpseudouridine, a modification naturally found in some RNA molecules, to allow the mRNA to deliver its message to the cell without being destroyed by an innate immune response.

The review paper being cited is based on other published articles and does not contain original research. Experts told us that it misleads by misinterpreting several studies and the role of N1-methylpseudouridine in vaccines. The authors also refer to an unreliable review article, written by authors known for spreading misinformation, that falsely claimed the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines impair the immune system and increase the risk of cancer, as we have explained.

One of the most important misrepresentations, and one that the authors heavily rely on, is based on the findings of a study on mRNA cancer vaccines in mice. The study looked at the efficacy of mRNA cancer vaccines with different degrees of N1-methylpseudouridine modification in a mouse melanoma model. According to the review, the study found that “adding 100% of N1-methyl-pseudouridine (m1Ψ) to the mRNA vaccine in a melanoma model stimulated cancer growth and metastasis, while non-modified mRNA vaccines induced opposite results, thus suggesting that Covic-19 mRNA vaccines could aid cancer development.”

But that’s not what the study found.

“Our results did not show, suggest or indicate that modified mRNA promotes tumor growth/metastasis,” Tanapat Palaga, professor of microbiology at the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and the corresponding author of that study, told us in an email.

What the study actually showed is that both unmodified mRNA and modified mRNA induced immune responses against the tumor antigens, but only the unmodified mRNA reduced cancer growth and metastasis, while the modified mRNA didn’t. The study was published in 2022 and co-authored by Drew Weissman, who won the 2023 Nobel Prize with Katalin Karikó for discovering this mRNA modification that eventually led to the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.

Dr. James A. Hoxie, an emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and co-director of the Penn Institute of RNA Innovation (directed by Weissman), told us those findings are relevant for scientists who are studying ways in which mRNA cancer vaccines can elicit immune responses needed to prevent or delay cancer progression. (See “Social Media Posts Misinterpret Biden on mRNA Cancer Vaccines” for more information about mRNA cancer vaccines.)

“But that is a far cry from saying that the vaccine that was used to prevent Covid-19 disease causes cancer,” he said. Implying that by regulating the innate immune system, which is something scientists working in immunotherapies are trying to understand, “you’re leaving yourself open for cancer risk — that is ludicrous.”

Palaga told us, “I believe that the authors of this review article intentionally or [unintentionally] misinterpret our results and tried to twist the conclusion to support their agenda.”

There are no studies supporting a link between N1-methylpseudouridine and cancer in animals or mice, experts told us.

There is also no evidence mRNA Covid-19 vaccines impair, much less suppress, the immune system, as we’ve reported. In fact, the vaccines enhance immunity by teaching the immune system how to identify and fight the coronavirus.

N1-methylpseudouridine and its role in mRNA vaccines

To understand the role of N1-methylpseudouridine we have to look back at the history of mRNA vaccines.

Normally, when a cell encounters a foreign RNA, a molecule present in most living organisms and viruses, it activates a strong innate immune response against the molecule.

This was a problem for scientists trying to use mRNA as a therapeutic, since the goal was for the cell to receive the instructions carried by the mRNA and produce certain proteins. Until the mid-2000s, Karikó, Weissman and others observed that if they attached certain chemical modifications found in some kinds of natural RNA molecules, such as pseudouridine, into one of the four bases of mRNA, they could blunt that innate immune response and, at the same time, increase the mRNA’s capacity to translate its code for the cell to make the desired proteins.

Later, scientists found N1-methylpseudouridine, another modification naturally found in some kinds of RNA molecules, worked better than pseudouridine.

The modification is not “suppressing” the immune system, Hoxie told us — it just allows for certain parts of the immune system not to activate temporarily “in order to get the desired effect.”

Jordan L. Meier, senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute who has studied the role of N1-methylpseudouridine in Covid-19 vaccines, told us the authors of the review paper misrepresent what N1-methylpseudouridine, which is abbreviated as m1Ψ, does.

The review “incorrectly” confuses “m1Ψ’s ability to hide from the immune system with an ability to weaken or disable it,” he told us in an email.

To explain it, Meier compared the mRNA modification to a spy using a disguise in order to pass security guards.

“The authors are essentially suggesting that the disguise somehow makes the guards less able to do their jobs going forward,” he wrote. “In reality, once the disguised person is through, the guards remain just as vigilant and capable as before.”

The review, he added, doesn’t provide evidence that N1-methylpseudouridine “leaves the immune system any worse off for future threats.”

 
Misrepresented studies in the review paper

Similarly, the review misleads by cherry-picking or misrepresenting figures and tables of this and other papers.

For example, in the study by Palaga, Weissman and others using a mouse melanoma model (in which malignant cells from a tumor are given to a mouse), scientists found that relative to mice that received no vaccine (and instead received a saline solution) no increase in tumor growth or decrease in survival occurred when animals were vaccinated with a modified mRNA vaccine.

However, when animals received a vaccine containing unmodified mRNA, the study showed a decrease in tumor growth and an increase in survival compared with the control group that received the saline solution. In other words, the study found that the unmodified mRNA generated immune responses that decreased tumor growth and improved survival, while, similar to the control group, the modified mRNA had no effect on the tumor.

Table 1 of the review, however, incorrectly says the study found that the modified mRNA vaccine “increases tumor growth” and “decreases survival.”

Hoxie said, “This is simply not true and is a gross misrepresentation of the data that paper actually shows. The modified RNA had no effect on the tumor, and results using that vaccine were the same as using a saline solution.”

The tumor growth in mice receiving the modified mRNA was “increased relative to the unmodified vaccine, but it was identical to when there was no intervention,” Hoxie said. “Animals that received the modified mRNA vaccine died at the same rate and with the same amount of tumor as did animals that received the saline solution. The fact tumor progression in this model was reduced with the unmodified mRNA vaccine is the key point of this paper and indicated that in this model immune responses to unmodified mRNA may have anti-tumor activity, an important finding for the cancer immunotherapy field.”

The review also refers to a study that has been extensively misinterpreted to falsely claim that the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA Covid-19 vaccine causes what vaccine opponents called “turbo cancer.” The study describes one mouse that died from a lymphoma after 14 mice were given a high dose of the vaccine. The review paper reproduces images from the study that show dissected mice and compares the organs of the mouse that died with one with a normal anatomy.

As we explained, and as the authors of that paper noted in an addendum, there is no such thing as “turbo cancer,” and, more importantly, the case report does not demonstrate a causal relationship between the lymphoma and the vaccine.

Meier told us the review also wrongly refers to a study published in 2016 to support its thesis that modified mRNA vaccines turn off an immune sensor known as RIG-I.

“In reality, this study only showed m1Y mRNAs are unable to activate RIG-I and did not test inhibition. In other words, what was shown was that m1Y is a strong camouflage, not that it is an immune suppressor,” he wrote.

FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization at the University of Pennsylvania that monitors the factual accuracy of public statements.

Measles, which can lead to complications and even death, threatens to come back; vaccine is 97% protective against it

Photo by Pro-Stock Studio, iStock/Getty Images

By Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels
University of Kentucky

Over two decades ago, measles – a highly contagious and potentially deadly childhood disease – was declared eliminated in the United States. As of April 18, at least 125 measles cases have been recorded nationwide this year – more than double the amount of cases observed in all of 2023.

Measles most commonly affects unvaccinated children, and 20 to 40% of infected children require hospitalization. Ear infections, pneumonia, long-term neurologic issues and even death can occur. In general, most will recover, but some will have complications from the infection.

The sharp increase in cases is due to:

• A national and international decline in measles vaccination rates.
• International travel to areas with active outbreaks.
• The extreme contagiousness of the measles virus. On average, one infected person can infect nine to 10 other people, if unvaccinated.

Experts still consider measles to be eliminated in the U.S. but that could change if we don’t continue to take proper preventative measures. In response to the increase in cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued warnings to health professionals and the general public throughout the spring.

How do I protect myself from measles?

Fortunately, the best tool for preventing a measles infection is still highly effective. Measles is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. One dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% protective. Two doses – the recommended number – are 97% protective against the disease.

Because of the inherent contagiousness of measles, 95% or more of a population needs to be vaccinated for the entire population to be protected from an outbreak. Currently the U.S. has 93.1% vaccination coverage.

 
Kentucky has 91.6% coverage (of greater than one dose of MMR vaccine).

This last week of April is World Immunization Week – a good opportunity to discuss the importance of measles vaccination with family and friends, especially those who are planning to travel internationally or to parts of the U.S. where a measles outbreak is active. The latest tracking of measles cases and more information about the disease can be found on the CDC’s measles webpage.

What are the symptoms of measles?

• Measles symptoms typically include: Fevers (can be very high)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes

After the above symptoms, the characteristic red rash appears, starting from the head and spreading downward.

People with measles are thought to be contagious from about four days prior to developing the rash to four days after the onset of the rash (with the onset being day zero).

What to do if you think you’ve been exposed: If you’re concerned you or your child have been exposed to measles, contact your health care provider immediately.

Many of us, fortunately, have never seen a case of measles in our lifetime. With a renewed focus on prevention, hopefully, we never will.

Nicholas Van Sickels, M.D., is infectious-disease specialist and director of infection prevention and control at UK HealthCare.

Warmer weather means ticks are active and looking to suck your blood; they can make you sick; here's how to deal with them

Mosquito Squad of Louisville graphic, adapted by Kentucky Health News; click on it to enlarge

State wildlife officials are reminding Kentuckians to take precautions against tick bites, which can transmit disease.

“Ticks are common across the state, and whether you’re hunting, hiking or spending time in your backyard, you’re probably going to encounter them,” said Dr. Christine Casey, wildlife veterinarian for the Deparment of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The key to avoiding any health risk from a tick bite is by taking steps to protect yourself from being bitten in the first place.”

The most common tick species in Kentucky are the blacklegged tick or deer tick, the American dog tick and the lone star tick. The type of tick can determine whether you get sick from a single bite; other factos include where it was acquired and how long it was attached.

"While few ticks transmit disease, tick bites should always be taken seriously," the department said in a news release. "Lyme disease, transmitted by infected blacklegged ticks and common in the northeast and north central U.S., is of growing concern to Kentucky.

"Ticks don’t have to ruin a day outdoors," the department says, offering these precautions to avoid tick bites and deal with them if you are bitten:

Before going outdoors

• Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents containing DEET (the oldest, most common and most effective insect repellent), picaridin, or oil of citronella.

• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. Permethrin should not be applied directly to the skin.

• Take extra precaution if walking through wooded or brushy areas, tall grasses, woodpiles and leaf litter.

After spending time outdoors

• Perform tick checks. Ticks are known to be found under the arms, in and around the ears, the back of the knees, in and around hair, between the legs and around the groin and waist. Be sure to check gear and pets as well.

• Shower soon after coming indoors; this can remove any unattached ticks.

• Tumble-dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks attached to clothes.

If you are bitten by a tick

If a tick is found attached to the skin, remove it as soon as possible. Use tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin and gently pull on the tick with steady pressure. Do not jerk or twist the tick; this can cause mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin.

After removing the tick, clean the bite site and wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Dispose of a tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or other container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Do not attempt to crush a tick between the fingers.

If symptoms of a fever, rash, muscle or joint aches, or other types of illness arise within several weeks of removing a tick, consult a health-care professional and tell them about the recent tick bite, when it occurred and where the tick was acquired.

Kentuckians who are interested in contributing to the study of tick-borne diseases and their distribution across the state are encouraged to submit samples of ticks to the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Project. This project, produced by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, aims to improve knowledge about where ticks are found and the diseases they might carry.

For more information about ticks and tick prevention, visit www.cdc.gov.

UK wants your ticks: dead, dry and properly packaged

Getty Images via UK

By Jordan Strickler
University of Kentucky

The Kentucky Tick Surveillance Project is now accepting tick-testing submissions from Kentucky residents. This project, produced by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, aims to improve knowledge about where ticks are found and the diseases they might carry.

The results help further public health research at the state level and alleviate concerns for citizens worried about tick-borne illnesses.

To ensure the safety and integrity of the samples, and to comply with postal regulations, participants are urged to follow strict guidelines when preparing ticks for submission:

• Do not mail live ticks: Ensure that ticks are not alive when sent.
• Avoid liquid alcohol: Do not send samples in containers of liquid rubbing alcohol.
• Proper packaging: Avoid using only paper envelopes for mailing ticks as they may get damaged in mail processing machines.
• Avoid taping ticks: Do not place ticks between pieces of tape.

Participants must complete a submission form before sending their tick sample. This form is crucial for processing and can be found at https://bit.ly/49SixpO. Samples without a completed form will not be accepted. Detailed instructions for preparing the tick sample, including necessary supplies and packaging steps, ensure samples arrive in good condition for testing.

Important Considerations:

• Selective Testing: Ticks will not be tested for all possible pathogens. The project focuses on gathering data for surveillance purposes.
• Notification Process: Submitters will only be contacted if their submissions test positive for pathogens. There will be no notification of negative results.
• Backlog and Time: Due to the project's volunteer nature, there is a testing backlog. Participants should expect delays.
• Not a Substitute for Medical Care: If a tick has bitten you and has symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Do not rely solely on submitting the tick for health decisions.

"Community involvement is the backbone of the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Project," Larson said. "Every tick submitted is a piece of the puzzle in understanding our state's tickborne disease landscape. We thank everyone who participates for their contribution to this important work."

Please send all ticks to: Tick Surveillance Program, c/o Subba Palli, Department of Entomology,
S-225 Ag Science Center North, Lexington KY 40546-0091.

For more information, visit https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ticksurveillance2022.

Physician who treats only seniors endorses CDC recommendation that everyone over 65 should get a Covid-19 booster this spring

By Laurie Archbald-Pannone
Associate professor of medicine and geriatrics, University of Virginia

In my mind, the spring season will always be associated with Covid-19.

In spring 2020, the federal government declared a nationwide emergency, and life drastically changed. Schools and businesses closed, and masks and social distancing were mandated across much of the nation.

In spring 2021, after the vaccine rollout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said those who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 could safely gather with others who were vaccinated without masks or social distancing.

In spring 2022, with the increased rates of vaccination across the U.S., the universal indoor mask mandate came to an end. In spring 2023, the federal declaration of Covid-19 as a public health emergency ended.

Photo from Senior Lifestyle

Now, as spring 2024 fast approaches, the CDC reminds Americans that even though the public-health emergency is over, the risks associated with Covid-19 are not. But those risks are higher in some groups than others. So the agency recommends that adults age 65 and older receive an additional Covid-19 vaccine, which is updated to protect against a recently dominant variant and is effective against the current dominant strain.The shot is covered by Medicare. But do you really need yet another Covid-19 shot?

As a geriatrician who exclusively cares for people over 65 years of age, this is a question I’ve been asked many times over the past few years.

In early 2024, the short answer is yes.

Compared with other age groups, older adults have the worst outcomes with a Covid-19 infection. Increased age is, simply put, a major risk factor.

In January 2024, the average death rate from Covid-19 for all ages was just under 3 in 100,000 people. But for those ages 65 to 74, it was higher – about 5 for every 100,000. And for people 75 and older, the rate jumped to nearly 30 in 100,000.

Even now, four years after the start of the pandemic, people 65 years old and up are about twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than the rest of the population. People 75 years old and up are 10 times more likely to die from Covid.

Vaccination is still essential

These numbers are scary. But the No. 1 action people can take to decrease their risk is to get vaccinated and keep up to date on vaccinations to ensure top immune response. Being appropriately vaccinated is as critical in 2024 as it was in 2021 to help prevent infection, hospitalization and death from Covid-19.

The updated Covid-19 vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective, with the benefits of vaccination continuing to outweigh the potential risks of infection.

The CDC has been observing side effects on the more than 230 million Americans who are considered fully vaccinated with what it calls the “most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.” Common side effects soon after receiving the vaccine include discomfort at the injection site, transient muscle or joint aches, and fever.

These symptoms can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medicines or a cold compress to the site after receiving the vaccine. Side effects are less likely if you are well hydrated when you get your vaccine.

Repeat infections carry increased risk, not just from the infection itself, but also for developing long Covid as well as other illnesses. Recent evidence shows that even mild to moderate Covid-19 infection can negatively affect cognition, with changes similar to seven years of brain aging. But being up to date with Covid-19 immunization has a fourfold decrease in risk of developing long Covid symptoms if you do get infected.

Known as immunosenescence, this puts people at higher risk of infection, including severe infection, and decreased ability to maintain immune response to vaccination as they get older. The older one gets – over 75, or over 65 with other medical conditions – the more immunosenescence takes effect.

All this is why, if you’re in this age group, even if you received your last Covid-19 vaccine in fall 2023, the spring 2024 shot is still essential to boost your immune system so it can act quickly if you are exposed to the virus.

The bottom line: If you’re 65 or older, it’s time for another Covid-19 shot.

This article was republished from The Conversation, a platform for journalism by academics.

State health chief says measles risk stems from pandemic's anti-vaccine 'ideologies'; discusses how to lose weight, need for sleep

WKYT news anchor Bill Bryant, left, interviews state Health Commissioner Steven Stack, M.D.

This story has been updated.

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

In a wide-ranging TV interview, state Health Commissioner Steven Stack warned Kentuckians that not enough of them are vaccinated for measles, which he said is an outgrowth of reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures taken against it.

Stack reflected on his work in the pandemic and talked about other health concerns, including the opioid epidemic, weight-loss drugs and the need for Kentuckians to get more sleep, in an interview that aired Sunday, March 10, on WKYT's "Kentucky Newsmakers" with Bill Bryant.

As of March 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recorded 45 cases of measles in 17 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.

Stack said measles was declared elimiated in the U.S. in 2000, but it has returned because vaccination rates have dropped to 90 percent. The disease may be the most contagious, and epidemiologists say 95 percent of a population needs to be vaccinated to protect those who can't or won't get the shot.

Stack said the measles-mumps-rubella (German measles) vaccine has been used since 1971, and is very effective. "We’ve got to get the public I hope, to accept that these tools help to prevent us from having far worse problems, like little babies who can't get vaccinated getting seriously ill." Children younger than 6 months are ineligible for vaccination.

Pew Research Center graph, based on Pew polling by party

Why have vaccination rates for contagious diseases dropped? "It's all gotten caught up in the Covid pandemic, in the narrative, in the ideologies that have unfortunately become associated with public health and medical science," said Stack, a physician.

Asked if he and Gov. Andy Beshear made the right calls in the pandemic, he said "I think we did the best we could with what we knew at the time." He said Kentucky outperformed most other states, considering its lower health status, which made it more vulnerable.

Stack said he and Beshear "balanced saving the most poeple [with] other harms that are worse than what you're trying to prevent." He said Kentucky's death toll of 20,000 was "far from what it would have been had we not intervened," noting that an intiial estimate was it could lose 1 to 2 percent of its population: 45,000 to 90,000 people.

Looking ahead, Stack said people 65 and older and those with other risk factors should get a Covid-19 booster this spring, and everyone should get an annual booster, much like has long been done for influenza.

Other health issues

Kentucky leads the nation in the percentage (about 2.1%) of population that has received a prescription for one of the new drugs created to fight obesity and diabetes, which can also aid weight loss.

"Overweight and obesity is a big problem in Kentucky," Stack said, noting that 38% of Kentuckians weigh too much. "That leads to diabetes, it increased your risk of cancer and cardiovasculat disease, like stroke and heart disease. It's really a major issue for us to address."

As for the drugs, "People are understandably desperate to find ways to get it under control," he said. "It's really too early to say what the long-term outcome of those medications will be. Some people have had wonderful benefits from it, have lost a lot of weight and improved their overall performance. Some individuals have had a difficult time tolerating it: persistent nausea, vomiting, or an unlucky small number with pancreatitis, so time will tell on those.

"Right now I think what we really need to do is try to think about ways to improve our environment so it's easier to eat healthier -- fresh fruits and vegetables -- and do mild things, like just go for a walk three or four days a week for 35 to 45 minutes; if you could do simple things like that, most of us could actually lose the small weight that we have to avoid becoming diabetic."

Kentucky is also one of the states most affected by the opioid epidemic. Stack said it has evolved because "The criminals keep getting more creative in the cocktails they put together and they're becomeing more and more lethal for people."

Speaking on the weekend that the nation moved its clocks to daylight saving time, Stack said lack of sleep is also a major health issue, especially for teens, who need more of it.

He said teens and adults "disrupt our sleep" with big and small screens, on TVs and smartphones. "We’ve got to get better sleep hygiene," he said, "and set out the time we need to get that eight hours of sleep."

Emergency-room visits for respiratory illness keep declining, but flu activity remains elevated, and hospital admissions for it are up

State Department for Public Health graphs, adapted by Kentucky Health News

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky's influenza levels remain elevated and hospitalizations for respiratory illness remain high, even though emergency-department visits for respiratory illness have stayed on a rough plateau since mid-January, according to the state Department for Public Health.

In the week ended March 2, Kentucky saw a 13% drop in emergency-department visits for respiratory illness, to 3,175. Flu continues to be the driver for this high number.

Hospitalizations for flu increased slightly, but overall admissions for the three respiratory diseases tracked by the state dropped 7%, to 491. In addition to flu, the state tracks Covid-19 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Letcher County is the only Kentucky county to have a high rate of Covid-19 hospital admissions in the week ended March 2, with 23.2 admissions per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Sixteen Kentucky counties had a hospital-admission rate between 10 and 19.9 per 100,000 people, considered "medium" by the CDC. That included Pike County, just north of Letcher. The others are in Western Kentucky: Union, Ohio, McLean, McCracken, Marshall, Lyon, Livingston, Hickman, Henderson, Hancock, Graves, Daviess, Crittenden, Carlisle and Ballard counties. 

For two weeks in a row, ED visits for respiratory illness have declined in children aged 5 to 17, dropping to 723 in the week ended March 2. Like adults, these visits have been driven by the flu. This age group had 14 hospital admissions in the week, 12 for flu and two for Covid-19. 

The state reported 3,603 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu in the week ended March 2 and 1,983 lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19. Both of these numbers have dropped for three weeks in a row. 

Since the flu season began in October, the state has recorded 414 Covid-19 deaths and 97 flu deaths, 75 of the latter since the first week of January. One Covid-19 victim and one flu victim have been children.

Flu shots limit infection rates, which are still elevated in Kentucky

State health department graphs, adapted by Kentucky Health News

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

The Kentucky Department for Public Health still considers hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses high and says flu activity remains elevated. 

Health officials say the best way to protect yourself from these viruses is to stay up to date with your vaccines. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get the annual flu vaccine and updated Covid-19 vaccines, especially children younger than 5 or anyone at high risk for complications.

Vaccines for respiratory syncitial virus are recommended for some infants and young children, pregnant women and adults 60 and older. At some places and times, there has been a shortage of these vaccines. 

This year's "flu vaccines have worked, substantially reducing the risk of flu-related medical visits and hospitalizations across all age groups, with some estimates higher than have been previously observed, even during well-matched seasons," said a CDC report released on Feb. 29.

"Specifically, flu vaccination has reduced the risk of flu medical visits by about two-thirds and flu-related hospitalization by about half for vaccinated children and flu medical visits by half and hospitalization by about 40% for vaccinated adults."

Even though flu season usually peaks around January, it lasts until May. Health experts say that if there is any flu activity occurring, it's not too late to get vaccinated.

What the numbers say

Emergency-department visits for respiratory illness in Kentucky have stayed about the same for the last two weeks, with 3,607 visits reported in the week ended Feb. 24.

Hospitalizations for respiratory disease in that week stayed about the same as the week prior, with 491 530 hospitalizations reported in the week ended Feb. 24. 

Kentucky had 20 counties with Covid-19 hospitalizations between 10 and 19.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, a rate that the  CDC considers "medium." 

Those counties are Adair, Green, Russell, Taylor, Clinton, Cumberland, Lewis, Elliott, Menifee, Morgan, Rowan, Barren, Hart, Metcalfe, Monroe, Bath, Montgomery, Floyd, Johnson and Magoffin. 

Overall, there was little change in the three respiratory viruses tracked by the state health department: Covid-19, influenza and RSV, with flu continuing to drive ED visits and hospital admissions. 

The state reported 3,857 laboratory confirmed cases of the flu in the week ended Feb. 24 and 2,246 laboratory confirmed cases of Covid-19. This reflected a slight drop in flu cases and a nearly 9% drop in Covid cases.

Among children, ED visits for respiratory disease increased 12% in children four and younger, to 671, compared to the prior week, and hospitalizations for children 5 to 17 increased 50%, to 18. The increase in ED visits for younger children was driven by the flu, and hospitalizations for the older children were driven by an increase in  both flu and Covid-19.

Since the respiratory-illness season began the first week in October, 384 Kentuckians have died from Covid-19, and 51 from flu, according to the health department. One Covid-19 victim and one flu victim have been children. 

State's health chief urges parents to get kids vaccinated against measles, the most contagious disease, which can do great harm

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

A highly contagious childhood disease that was declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000 is making a comeback, largely driven by a declining vaccination rate in the country.  

"Unfortunately, as the measles vaccination rate has decreased, it's just one of those things where folks are opting out of vaccination more often, we're starting to see the increase of measles in the United States," Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said at a Feb. 29 press conference. 

In Kentucky, about 90% of the state's kindergarteners are vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella "and that has to be 95% or higher to stop transmission," said Stack. 

Stack spent the bulk of his time talking about a disease that he said most people in our country, including health-care providers, have never seen. Further, he said, it is a disease that is "virtually, entirely vaccine-preventable." 

"If you are vaccinated, you almost certainly will get no symptoms from measles," he said. "In fact, the vaccine is so effective, you won't get sick at all and you don't transmit the virus." 

Stack said symptoms of measles include a cough, congestion, fever that may go up to 104 degrees, and a full-body rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also mentions sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light; watery or swollen eyes; small greyish-white spots in the mouth, and a loss of appetite. 

"You feel miserable," said Stack, adding, "In the unlucky ones, the complications are pneumonia, diarrhea, ear infections, and even sometimes brain swelling that can lead to things like seizures, developmental disabilities and other permanent brain damage."

Among the unvaccinated population, Stack said more than one in five measles victims are hospitalized and one in 20 get pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death. 

"The most common age of death is under 5,  those are the individuals hurt the most by this disease if you're unvaccinated," he said. "And for the really unlucky, one in one thousand can get a permanent brain injury from the brain swelling that I talked about." 

Dr. Steven Stack with Gov. Andy Beshear (File photo)

Because measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air, with an incubation period of 10 to 12 days, it is easy to spread it unknowingly. Stack said a person is contagious for four days before the rash and four days after the rash, which is why it is recommended for anyone who has been exposed to measles or who has it to stay at home for 21 days to avoid spreading the disease. 

"Measles is probably the most contagious viral disease on planet Earth at present. The only thing that could maybe compete with it is Covid," he said. "In this room, all of us in this press conference for a period of 40 to 60 minutes, if one person had measles in this room and we were unvaccinated, nine out of 10 of us would become infected with measles in about 10 to 12 days." 

As of Feb. 29, the CDC reported there had been 41 measles cases reported in 16 states, none in Kentucky.  

"This is becoming more common and because people travel a lot and are portable in ways that weren't possible . . . in the prior century, it spreads too easily and can cause too many problems," said Stack. "Everybody please go get yourselves and your children vaccinated if you are not already vaccinated."

Florida, with its many airports and a regular vacation spot for many Kentuckians, is one of the states with a recent outbreak. Of concern to public health officials is a letter issued by the Florida State Health Department that does not urge parents of unvaccinated children at that school to get vaccinated or to quarantine. Instead, it leaves these decisions up to parents.

These recommendations go against well-established public health guidelines that call for unvaccinated people or those with no prior immunity to isolate for 21 days after exposure and for unvaccinated children to get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure, which allows them to return to school as long as they don't develop symptoms,  Katelyn Jetelina and Dr. Kristen Panthagani, write in their Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter.

Asked about what precautions Kentuckians should take if they are traveling through the Florida airports or spending time in the state, Brice Mitchell, spokesperson for DPH said a person's level of concern should be determined by whether they are vaccinated or not.  

"If you are vaccinated for measles, there are no special precautions necessary. If you are unvaccinated for measles, the Kentucky Department for Public Health urges that you get vaccinated," he said in an email. "For further information, please review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance." 

Dr. Sean McTigue, interim chief of infectious disease at Kentucky Children's Hospital agreed.

"Anyone who is up to date with this vaccine is protected against measles infection and would not need to take any additional precautions when traveling to Florida or through Florida airports," McTigue said in an email. "If planning a trip to Florida and one or more travelers are not already up to date with MMR vaccine, then now would be an excellent time to be vaccinated." 

Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended to children starting at 12 months. Adults can also be vaccinated. 

McTigue called this measles outbreak and others a "wake-up call" for those who are not protected and provides an opportunity for parents to protect their children against measles. 

"Because the MMR also protects against mumps and rubella, it is also an excellent way to protect against mumps which can cause testicular infection and sterility in males and against rubella which can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected during her pregnancy," he said. 

Stack also pointed to the protections provided by the vaccine, saying in a news release, "Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles and provides lifelong protection if exposed to the virus. Even if exposed to measles, vaccinated persons may continue routine activities.”

The CDC says that while detectable antibodies generally appear within just a few days after getting the measles vaccination, it takes about two or three weeks to be fully protected. Ideally, the CDC says a person should be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before they travel.

More information can be found in a Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Hospital blog post, "Measles Makes a Comeback: What Parents Need to Know." It says measles cases worldwide increased 79% in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. In 2022, the WHO estimated that measles killed more than 130,000—most of them children.

“Measles is a huge concern and directly related to declining measles vaccination rates,” said Dr. Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist with Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital. “Vaccine hesitancy, fueled during the pandemic by the anti-vaccine movement, has affected vaccination rates nationwide. In addition, because children were quarantined during the pandemic, many missed out on well-child visits and didn’t catch up on their vaccines. That has meant 61 million fewer doses distributed nationwide between 2020 and 2022.”

Although the first dose of the MMR vaccine is traditionally given to infants 12-15 months of age, and the second around a child’s fifth or sixth birthday, Soni said infants as young as 6 months can receive the first vaccine if they are traveling to areas where the measles infection rate is high.

CDC shortens Covid-19 isolation advice to match other viruses

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention photo

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated guidance for how long people need to isolate when they get Covid-19, to match the guidance for dealing with other viruses. 

"While every respiratory virus does not act the same, adopting a unified approach to limiting disease spread makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven," the CDC said in a news release.

As of March 1, people who test positive for Covid-19 no longer need to stay isolated for five days, but instead can return to their regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication. 

"This advice is similar to what has been recommended for flu for decades and will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses during the most contagious period after infection," says a separate advisory. 

Once people get back to their normal activities, the CDC acknowledges that some people may still be contagious. Because of this, it calls on people to take additional precautions for the next five days, such as gathering outdoors when possible, practicing good hygiene, keeping a distance from others and wearing a well-fitting mask. 

The CDC says it is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with Covid-19 and because there are more tools than ever to combat flu, Covid and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV). 

“Today’s announcement reflects the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from Covid-19,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC director, said in the release. “However, we still must use the commonsense solutions we know work to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses—this includes vaccination, treatment, and staying home when we get sick.”

This updated guidance is intended for community settings only. There are no changes to guidelines for nursing homes and health-care facilities.

Rising flu cases drive continued increases in emergency-room visits and hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses in Kentucky

State graphs, adapted by Kentucky Health News

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

A big jump in influenza cases more than outweighed small declines in Covid-19 and respiratory syncitial virus as Kentuckians headed into the holidays, according to the state's latest respiratory-illness update.

The report for the week ended Dec. 23 shows the three illnesses accounted for 4,431 Kentucky emergency-department visits, an increase of 10.3 percent from the week before. That was driven entirely by a 30 percent increase in flu cases, from 2,109 to 2,737.

Covid-19 cases declined from 1,107 to 1,080 during the week, and RSV cases dropped from 802 to 614, a decline of 31 percent, accoridng to the report from the state Department for Public Health.

Kentucky hospital admissions for the three diseases rose only 3.3 percent, from 670 to 692, while admissions for the flu rose 36 percent, from 144 to 196.

Covid-19 admissions declined from 339 to 329, and RSV admissions declined from 187 to 167 during the week ended Dec. 23.

CDC map, adapted by Ky. Health News; click on any image to enlarge it.

The week saw the development of a new hotspot for Covid-19 hospital admissions, in far western Kentucky and two nearby Illinois counties. The rate of Covid-19 hospital admissions was 23.1 per 100,000 residents in Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, Graves, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken and Marshall counties.

That list incudes all the counties in the Jackson Purchase except Calloway, which had a very low Covid-19 hospital-admission rate of 0.9 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which considers rates above 20 to be high and below 10 to be low.

Parts of Kentucky's notheastern quadrant remained hotspots for Covid-19 hospital admissions. Greenup, Boyd, Carter and Martin counties had rates of 23.4 per 100,000. Pike County's rate was 20.3, and the rate in Fleming, Mason and Bracken counties was 20, according to the CDC.

Doctors say the best way to prevent hospitalization for Covid-19, the flu and RSV is immunization. Vaccines are readily available for the flu and Covid-19. The RSV vaccines for infants and people over 60 are in shorter supply, so experts advise you to check with your doctor or nurse practitioner.