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How to prevent the spread of RSV this winter, according to Cleveland Clinic specialists

By Cleveland Clinic and Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health reported that hospitalizations for respiratory diseases increased in the last four weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health reported that hospitalizations for respiratory diseases increased in the last four weeks. FILE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health reported that hospitalizations for respiratory diseases increased in the last four weeks.

Hospitalizations increased by 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19 and 60% for RSV among all age group.

While more patients are checking into hospitals for treatment, the CDC reports not many people are getting vaccinated this winter against seasonal influenza.

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus; patients who are most at risk include babies, children under two, and some adults, like those with certain medical issues or who are 65 and older.

Earlier this year, RSV vaccines were approved for women who are pregnant and adults who are 60 and older. There’s also an RSV immunization shot for babies under eight months.

About 15% of adults over the age of 60 received the RSV vaccine.

Dr. Frank Esper, pediatric infectious disease specialist with Cleveland Clinic Children’s, recommends people who are eligible to get them.

He said the increase is typical for this time of year.

“Usually around December, January we see a huge surge in babies who are hospitalized for RSV infection,” said Dr. Esper. “Most commonly, they’re under the age of two, but under the age of six months is when they really have a hard time with it.”

Symptoms can include a cough, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, sore throat, fever, mild headache and lack of energy.

In severe cases, they could have trouble breathing and need to be hospitalized.

To help prevent the spread of RSV, Dr. Esper said people should regularly wash their hands, sanitize any high touch areas and stay home when sick.

However, even doing that might not be enough.

“You go out into the world and you’re going to have exposure to RSV. It doesn’t always have to be the school. It could be the supermarket, it could be a movie theater, it could be a drugstore,” he said. “There are people out there that have RSV and don’t even know that they’re sick, and then they could then spread it to people who do get sick.”

According to the CDC, there are a few key reasons for low vaccination uptake of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines.

Based on some survey results conducted by Ipsos KnowledgePanel and NORC AmeriSpeak Omnibus Surveys, here’s why adults in the U.S. have been putting off their vaccines:

  • lack of provider recommendation,
  • concerns or issues about unknown or serious side effects,
  • occurrence of mild side effects, and
  • lack of time or forgetting to get vaccinated.
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