Respiratory Illness Prevention and Surveillance
Get immunized to protect against flu, COVID and RSV this season.
Respiratory illnesses, such as flu, COVID and RSV, tend to increase in the fall and winter, as we spend more time inside. Getting your fall vaccinations get help protect you and your family against the most serious effects of flu, COVID and RSV.
We strongly urge all residents ages 6 months or older to receive the current flu and COVID-19 shot. Eligible individuals should get vaccinated against RSV. People who are up to date with their vaccines have lower risk of severe illness.
Scroll down to learn more about the vaccines, how to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses and the current levels of virus in Bethel’s wastewater.
More About Fall 2024 / Winter 2025 Immunizations
INFLUENZA
Who: Everyone 6 months and older.
The current flu vaccine covers three strains. Staying up to date with the flu vaccine provides 40%-60% reduces risk of flu illness by 40-60%. It lowers the severity of your sickness; you won’t get as sick. You’ll recover more quickly and you’re less likely to be hospitalized. Multiple studies show that flu vaccination can significantly reduce children’s risk of dying from flu.
COVID-19
Who: Everyone 6 months and older.
If you have recently been infected, it’s recommended to wait 4-6 months before getting the updated vaccines. This guidance may differ for individuals with immunocompromising conditions. Check the CDC website for more specific guidance.
COVID vaccines have been updated for fall 2024 to be effective against variants expected to be circulating this fall and winter. Staying up to date on your COVID vaccine provided about a 60% increase in protection and results are expected to be similar this year.
RSV
Monoclonal Antibodies:
Who: All infants under 8 months, and Alaska Native infants under 20 months, when available
The monoclonal antibody (MAB), Beyfortus (nirsevimab), provides direct antibodies against RSV to infants, unlike a vaccine, which teaches the body to produce an immune response. Real-world data from the YK Delta showed that this was highly effective (~80%) at reducing significant illness from RSV, and likely even higher at protecting against hospitalization.
Vaccine:
Who: Everyone 60 and older may get the vaccine; anyone 75 and older should get the vaccine. Pregnant people can receive the vaccine during 32-36 weeks of pregnancy from September through April.
The RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, teaches the body to produce an immune response to RSV.
How to Get Your Vaccines
Flu: Flu vaccines are available in Bethel now. To schedule an appointment, call 907-543-6442.
Flu shots are being shipped to staffed clinics and will be in clinics by October 3. YKHC is scheduling providers to visit unstaffed clinics to provide fall vaccinations.
Drop-in flu and COVID vaccine clinics are being scheduled for October. More information will be shared here and on social media when available.
COVID: COVID vaccines are expected to be available in Bethel the week ending Sept. 27 and be in villages by October 3. Speak with your healthcare provider to schedule a appointment.
RSV: YKHC is chartering flights to deliver RSV antibodies to eligible infants the week of Sept. 23. To learn more about receiving antibodies or the vaccine, speak with your healthcare provider.
Respiratory Illness Surveillance
- CoVID-19(SARS-CoV-2) levels remain high.
- Flu(influenza) is beginning to be seen in our area. Get your flu vaccine to reduce your risk and the severity of disease.
- Whooping Cough (Pertussis) is in our region, as well as Anchorage and other areas in Alaska. As of August 1, Alaska had 232 pertussis cases compared to 4 cases at this same time last year.
- RSV cases are increasing, especially among infants aged 2 and under as well as persons aged 60+.
Pertussis: The YK Delta continues to see a spike in pertussis cases (not pictured above). This trend isn’t unique to our region. As of August 1, Alaska had reported 131 cases of pertussis (91 since June), compared to 26 cases in 2023. The U.S. is also experiencing an increase, with over 10,000 cases reported so far this year compared to 2,800 during the same period last year.
Pertussis is highly contagious. The DTaP or Tdap vaccine offers protection and is recommended for infants and young children, with booster doses for adolescents and adults. It’s especially important for pregnant women to protect newborns.
Don’t ignore your cough! Be on the lookout for symptoms that could be associated with pertussis. If you have had a cough lasting more than two weeks or a severe cough that occurs in sudden, uncontrollable bursts, especially if followed by vomiting, please reach out to YKHC for evaluation and treatment.
YKHC Office of Environmental Heath's Testing of Bethel Wastewater
When people are ill from a viral infection, they release bits of virus into the wastewater when they use the toilet or wash their hands. The YKHC Office of Environmental Health consistently collects and evaluates Bethel wastewater to detect SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and B, and RSV using sophisticated genomic testing techniques at our wastewater lab in Bethel.
Bits of virus in the wastewater include genetic material known as RNA or DNA. Our lab uses the same type of equipment as the hospital to detect genetic material specific for a particular virus. When we have a positive wastewater test, we know that the virus is in our community. Higher concentrations of the genetic material suggest there are more people with the virus in the community.
Wastewater testing does not tell us who is sick with the virus, but it does help us recognize when a virus enters the community and whether infections are going up or down.
Prevention of Respiratory Diseases
There are several things each of us can do protect ourselves and others from respiratory diseases.
Immunizations: Stay up to date with COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines! Learn more on this page about how to get your fall vaccines.
If you are sick from a respiratory virus:
- Limit your interactions for at least 24 hours after your symptoms improve and you have not had a fever without taking fever-reducing medication.
- For the first five days after symptoms have resolved, consider wearing a well-fitting mask, distancing from others, and getting tested. You may still be contagious.
Testing: Lab tests are widely available and can be readily accessed for common viruses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV. At-home tests for SARS-CoV-2 are widely available and may be picked up from the security desk at the hospital. In villages, schedule a test at your local clinic.
If you test positive for COVID-19, call 907-543-6949, 543-6420, or your local clinic for more information.
Hygiene: Certain viruses can be spread through surfaces. Washing your hands often and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can be helpful to prevent sickness.
Treatment: COVID-19 treatment can be highly effective if taken within 5 days of symptoms starting. Call 907-543-6949 or your local clinic for more information about accessing treatment.
Learn More
Flu
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The illness usually lasts 5-7 days, but symptoms can linger for 6 weeks.
Flu can cause:
- Dehydration: can cause imbalances of the salts in our blood
- Pneumonia: not bacterial requiring antibiotics, but fluid building in the lung tissue making it hard for the lungs to work well.
- Worsening of underlying illness like COPD, brochiectasis or other lung and heart conditions.
Flu is transmitted from person to person through droplets when we sneeze, cough, speak or sing and we can also pass it along by germs on our hands, so washing hands and masking if we’re sick are great ways to prevent from spreading the flu.
COVID-19
COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. But COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. Some people, including those with minor or no symptoms, will develop post-COVID conditions, also called “Long COVID.”
Anyone infected with COVID-19 can spread it, even if they do not have symptoms.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms.
Most people infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after getting infected. Symptoms of RSV infection usually include: runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing. These symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once.
In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity or breathing difficulties.
Severe RSV infections include bronchiolitis (an inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia. RSV can also make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks as a result of RSV infection, and people with congestive heart failure may experience more severe symptoms triggered by RSV.