An Indiana Health Alert Network Notification was sent out on Dec. 19 emphasizing an “urgent need” to increase immunization coverage.

The alert reported cases and hospitalizations related to influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 are increasing, and vaccination rates remain low.

Highlights from the IHAN include:

• Health care providers should administer influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations now to all patients as recommended.
• In the past four weeks, hospitalizations among all age groups increased by 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19, and 60% for RSV. Nationally, 12 pediatric influenza deaths have been reported this season thus far.
• In Indiana, hospital admissions, emergency department visits, deaths, and cases are increasing. Indiana has reported one pediatric influenza death.
• Trends associated with the detection of SARS-CoV-2 are increasing across the country, and current viral wastewater levels are high, particularly in Indiana and the Midwest.
• Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV can result in severe disease, especially among unvaccinated persons.
• Vaccination for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV reduces the risk of severe disease, including pneumonia, hospitalization, and death.  Vaccination for COVID-19 can also reduce the incidence of MIS-C and post-COVID conditions.
• Antiviral medications are underutilized but are important to treat patients.
• Mpox cases have been increasing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Clade II is responsible for the global mpox epidemic that began in 2022; the current outbreak in the DRC is clade I, which is considered to be more virulent. Clade I mpox can be transmitted non-sexually.

Read the entire alert here.