Yes. It’s still with us and people are often surprised when they are diagnosed with it. Flu was rampant and has now declined but is still circulating. Even if you have had the flu it’s worthwhile to get the vaccine as there are two strains circulating. Most of what we have seen is an A strain, but there also lower levels of a B strain circulating as well. RSV is out there. Respiratory Syncytial Virus. If you are 75 or older or if you have a chronic medical condition, you could benefit from getting one of the two commercially available vaccines. Here are a couple of articles which deal with the effectiveness of Covid 19 in preventing severe illness as well as the total burden of Covid 19 illness over a several year period.
Study Finds Updated COVID-19 BNT162b2 KP.2 Vaccine Has Protective Effects Against Severe Outcomes
Infectious Disease Advisor (1/28, Nye) reports a study found that “the BNT162b2 KP.2 COVID-19 vaccine had protective effects against emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) encounters and hospital admissions.” The study “included adults (N=65,584) who presented at the ED or UC (n=54,024) or were admitted to the hospital (n=11,560) with acute respiratory infection (ARI) and underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing by polymerase chain reaction between September 2024 and April 2025.” Researchers observed that the adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) “of BNT162b2 KP.2 against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 49% within 3 months of vaccination and declined to 35% at 3 months or longer. Additionally, adjusted VE against ED or UC encounters was 45% within 3 months and 26% thereafter. VE outcomes were similar across prior vaccination receipt groups and when stratified by age.” The study was published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Millions Of Symptomatic COVID-19 Illnesses Occurred Annually In US After Formal End Of Public Health Emergency, Study Finds
Infectious Disease Advisor (1/27, Khaja) reports a study found that “millions of COVID-19-associated illnesses and outpatient visits as well as thousands of hospitalizations and deaths continued to occur annually in the United States from late 2022 through 2024, despite the formal end of the public health emergency.” During the 2022 to 2023 surveillance period, the researchers “estimated 43,573,000 symptomatic COVID-19 illnesses, 9,995,000 outpatient visits, 1,130,000 hospitalizations, and 101,300 deaths nationwide. Although declines were observed in the subsequent year, the burden remained substantial, with an estimated 33,009,000 illnesses, 7,738,000 outpatient visits, 879,100 hospitalizations, and 100,800 deaths during the 2023 to 2024 period.” Although adults aged 65 years and older comprised just 17.7% of the US population, researchers noted they “accounted for nearly half of COVID-19-associated illnesses, approximately two-thirds of hospitalizations, and more than 80% of deaths during the 2023 to 2024 surveillance period.” The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
