Hospitals in the Lehigh Valley are confronting a rise in patients with respiratory infections that include COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial, the common cold, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Yet, major healthcare networks like Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke’s University Health Network are not considering reintroducing mask mandates. Among these infections, it can be challenging to distinguish one from the other without testing, explains Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s chief emeritus of infectious diseases. The healthcare networks are curating for children under 1 who have RSV and flu, adults over 60, and those with underlying health conditions, amidst a significant surge of COVID-19 cases.
While COVID-19 hospitalization rates have quadrupled in the past six to eight weeks, it is not as severe as it was two years ago. As of Jan. 5, there were about 100 patients hospitalised due to COVID-related sickness across these networks. Interestingly, about a third of those patients had not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Concerning the surge in COVID-19 cases, many major health networks in the Philadelphia area implemented mask requirements for patients, staff, and visitors. This includes Jefferson Health, which plans to merge with LVHN, and Penn Medicine, Temple Health, Main Line Health, and Cooper University Health Care. Nevertheless, Dr. Alex Benjamin, LVHN’s chief infection control and prevention officer, stated that LVHN has not yet discussed a return to mandating masks.
Jahre disclosed St. Luke’s has no plans to enforce new mask mandates. They do not believe in universal masking, as most of the transmission occurs when visitors are in the hospital. Jahre encourages mask-wearing for those with certain vulnerabilities in crowded indoor situations.
Regarding vaccines, Benjamin recommends that everyone who can should get vaccinated against COVID-19, the flu, and RSV to potentially reduce the chance of severe illness and minimize its spread. Jahre echoed the same sentiment. He noted that the vaccination rates are disappointing, especially for influenza. Despite the known consequences that influenza can cause and the proven efficacy of the vaccine, only 35-40% of the eligible population has received it.
Current data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that fewer Americans are getting flu or COVID-19 vaccines this season. Among eligible adults, only about 18% have received the RSV vaccine. Benjamin and Jahre believe that vaccine hesitancy and residual fatigue from the COVID-19 pandemic are significant contributing factors to this decrease. Jahre remarked that because some guidance and information from agencies like the CDC and US Food and Drug Administration have been confusing and occasionally inaccurate, this has led to distrust, even among individuals who were not initially opposed to vaccines.
Source: https://www.mcall.com/2024/01/10/lvhn-st-lukes-no-mask-mandate/