Dec. 7, 2023

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In this issue:

• Don’t forget your vaccines this winter!
• Celebrate this holiday season in healthy ways
• Readers share what inspires them to be healthy
• Learn safe cleaning and disinfecting tips this winter, especially around children
• Q & A
• OHA's COVID-19 resources

Don’t forget your vaccines this winter!

Respiratory virus season is in full swing, and so is the season for holiday celebrations when viruses are more likely to spread. It’s not too late to protect yourself and others from severe illness during the holidays by getting vaccinated, and to know you’ll be protected through the winter when people spend more time socializing indoors.

Here's the latest news for the big three respiratory viruses:

• COVID-19 transmission in Oregon has been steady over the past month with a percent positivity of 9.3% for the week ending Dec. 2. Omicron is still the predominant variant, and no single subvariant has emerged that is predicted to cause more severe disease. The rate of COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Oregon is predicted to remain stable through the first week in January.
  • To protect against severe COVID-19 illness from variants currently circulating in Oregon and across the U.S., everyone 6 months and older should receive the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government here.
• RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) transmission in Oregon is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 7.9% for the week ending Dec. 2.
  • Some people 60 and older are eligible to receive the RSV vaccine after discussing it with their health care provider.
  • Pregnant people between 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy (during RSV season) are recommended to receive the maternal RSV vaccine during September through January to protect their newborns, which is when babies are at highest risk for RSV.
  • Some babies are eligible for the immunization nirsevemab to protect against RSV. Note: there is currently limited supply of nirsevemab across the country.
• Influenza transmission in Oregon remains low but is steadily increasing with a percent positivity of 3.5% for the week ending Dec. 2. The CDC predicts a steady increase in flu-related hospitalizations in Oregon through the first week in January. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get a flu vaccination.

Find COVID-19 and flu vaccines at Vaccines.gov. Most retail pharmacies offer the RSV vaccine (call ahead to confirm), which is covered by Medicare Part D, Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) and many private insurance plans at in-network providers. Call your insurer in advance to confirm coverage and learn about in-network options. Vaccines for all three viruses can safely be given at the same time, and if you get them separately, there is no necessary waiting period between vaccinations. Learn more about vaccine insurance coverage on our blog.

Stay up to date on respiratory viruses in Oregon, including wastewater surveillance, hospitalization and test percent positivity data, by checking OHA’s Respiratory Virus Data dashboard.

Celebrate this holiday season in healthy ways

This holiday season we’re urging people in Oregon to pause for a moment, consider the role of alcohol in our lives and communities and ask the question - could we handle our alcohol in healthier ways? OHA’s Rethink the Drink winter campaign encourages conversation and compassion regarding alcohol consumption. That includes creating healthy environments that support friends and loved ones in their efforts to drink less alcohol. Everyone should be comfortable socializing at festive and celebratory events without feeling pressure to drink alcohol.

Did you know:

• More than 2,000 people in Oregon die from alcohol-related causes every year. Excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon.
• In the United States, excessive alcohol use is responsible for an alarming 1 in 5 deaths of people ages 20-49.
• Excessive drinking affects the entire community, costing Oregon $4.8 billion per year from lost earnings for workers and revenue for businesses, health care expenses, criminal justice costs and car crashes.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, the Lines for Life Alcohol and Drug Help Line (800-923-4357) is available 24/7. Trained counselors provide compassionate support and referrals to local resources for peer support and treatment.

You can also find treatment and recovery options in your area using the Recovery Network of Oregon search tool.

Find Oregon data, reports and other resources on OHA’s new Excessive Alcohol Use Prevention webpage.

Readers share what inspires them to be healthy

Learn safe cleaning and disinfecting tips this winter, especially around children

Viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza are more likely to spread during the cold-weather months when people spend more time socializing indoors. Therefore, it’s particularly important to keep your environment clean and healthy.    However, some chemicals in cleaning products can be harmful. Children are particularly vulnerable because their brains are developing and their bodies are growing, and harmful chemicals could disrupt development, learning and behavior, and could contribute to diseases later in life.

Q & A

Questions are answered by experts at OHA and other state agencies or community partners.

Q: Are there resources to pay for RSV immunization for those without Rx coverage? – Maxene, Coos Bay

A: Maxene, your question is important, because the RSV vaccine for adults age 60+ can be difficult to afford without some kind of insurance coverage. It is fully covered by Medicare Part D and Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid), and by many Marketplace and other private insurance plans at in-network providers and pharmacies. (People should call their insurer in advance to confirm coverage.)

If you have Medicare without Part D (Rx coverage), however, your best route is to find a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in your area and become a patient there. In Coos Bay, the Waterfall Community Health Center is closest to you. They have multiple locations, and the primary care clinic for your needs is in North Bend at 1890 Waite St. (541-756-6232, x525). They offer sliding scale discounts for services and medications based on income.

People can search for Oregon FQHCs near them using the Oregon Primary Care Association website, this OHA document, or nationwide with this federal locator tool.

Additionally, the two FDA-approved RSV vaccines are made by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer offers a patient assistance program for eligible uninsured people to receive the “Abrysvo” RSV vaccine at low- or no-cost. However, if you are underinsured (ie: Medicare but no Part D), you may qualify for Pfizer’s reimbursement assistance, and we recommend calling Pfizer Vaccines Reimbursement Support Services (844-989-7284) for details on your eligibility and the process.

Lastly, if you’re not sure whether you qualify for OHP (Medicaid), we highly recommend calling 800-699-9075 to find out. Carrying both Medicare and Medicaid is not uncommon and can really help lower your overall health care costs, including receiving the RSV vaccine at no cost to you.

If you have a question related to COVID-19 or other public health topics, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.

OHA's COVID-19 resources

• FIND A VACCINE
• COVID-19 home page
• News and reports homepage
• Respiratory virus data home page (COVID-19, RSV, flu)
  
• Wastewater surveillance data dashboard (updated every Wednesday)

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An archive of past Oregon Health News bulletins can be found here.