Hospitalizations from respiratory illnesses are rising on the Olympic Peninsula but remain far below pandemic year numbers even as less people are getting vaccinated.
According to the Washington Department of Health, most of the current statewide hospitalizations for respiratory illness are from influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, while COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the decline.
That’s mostly true for the North Olympic Peninsula, said Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, but recent outbreaks at long-term care facilities have pushed the region’s hospitalization numbers up.
COVID-19 made up 3.4 percent of all hospitalizations between Dec. 3-9, while influenza and RSV made up 1.1 percent each in the Olympic Community of Health, the DOH monitoring region which covers Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
“Overall on COVID, community numbers are going down,” Berry said.
That’s about the same as last year at the same time, when 3.5 percent of hospitalizations were from COVID-19, but well below the 2021-2022 season where COVID accounted for 5.8 percent of all hospitalizations.
Most of the hospitalizations for COVID-19 are in the 80 and over age group, followed by 65-79 year olds and declining with younger populations. However, the largest percentage of hospitalizations from influenza are among the 50-64 age group, with older groups making up a smaller percentage and younger age groups showing no hospitalizations.
DOH data show 4.6 percent of hospital beds in the Olympic region were occupied by COVID-19 cases for the week ending Dec. 9, and 2.3 percent of the intensive care unit beds.
Statewide, DOH estimates that only 15 percent of Washingtonians are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines while 26 percent of the population has received at least one dose of the flu vaccine this season. Statewide, 15 percent of adults aged 60 and older have gotten at least one dose of the RSV vaccine.
In Clallam County, DOH estimates that 19.2 percent of the population is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine but 72 percent have completed a primary series of the vaccine. In Jefferson County, 30 percent of the population is up to date on COVID vaccinations while 79 percent have completed a primary series.
Berry said that Clallam and Jefferson counties are among the most vaccinated counties in the state for COVID, influenza and RSV.
“Overall, the population has a high level of immunity from previous vaccine or infections,” Berry said of COVID-19, though she added that with each round of vaccination, less of the population is getting booster shots.
While COVID numbers are trending down, cases of influenza and RSV are rising, Berry said.
For RSV, infants and toddlers are the most impacted groups, with 29 percent of hospitalizations statewide coming from the 7-11 month-old age group and 15 percent in the 1-2 year-old age group, according to DOH.
A monoclonal antibody injection, which functions like a vaccine, is available for children, Berry said, but nationwide shortages have made it difficult for local families to get the shot.
Tests for RSV do exist, Berry said, but they can be very expensive and don’t typically provide much useful information.
Vaccinations, masking and avoiding others when sick are the most effective tools for limiting the spread of respiratory disease. With all three diseases — COVID-19, influenza and RSV — the most concerning symptom to watch for is shortness of breath.
“Most of these infections can be managed at home,” Berry said.
State data shows the number of hospitalizations for influenza and RSV peaked in the later part of November and early December but COVID-19 cases tended to rise significantly at the end of December and into early January.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tracked a 17 percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations and a 25 percent increase in deaths. Washington has tracked 31 deaths from COVID-19 in the past week with a death rate of 2.6-3.4 per 100,000 for the Olympic region.
COVID-19 vaccinations are covered by most insurance plans, and free vaccines are available for those who can’t afford them.
More information on vaccine availability can be found at vaccines.gov.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
