November 13, 2023
The 2023-2024 respiratory viral season is underway and as winter approaches and we head into the holiday season, understanding the current state of COVID-19, including variants, vaccines, antiviral treatments, and masking, is prudent for protecting yourself and others.
As of October 2023, the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics anticipates the upcoming respiratory viral season will likely result in similar numbers of hospitalizations compared to last year. In addition to COVID-19 vaccination for protection, there are two other winter respiratory vaccines to consider: (1) Influenza (Flu), and (2) Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The CDC/ACIP recommends both vaccines in age-appropriate individuals and are both available at no out-of-pocket cost to patients/members.
With decreased testing and reporting of positive COVID-19 results, the CDC data on hospitalizations and public wastewater surveillance have become the most reliable gauge of COVID-19 infections. State and territory ensemble forecasts predict that trends in the numbers of future hospitalizations related to COVID-19 are uncertain or predicted to remain stable over the next four weeks.
It remains Ventegra's deep commitment to our clients to provide the most updated and relevant one-stop-shop resource on COVID-19.
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