The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is an “urgent need” for vaccinations to fight respiratory illnesses this winter.
Earlier this week, the organization issued a health alert to doctors across the United States, calling on them to encourage their patients to get shots to protect them from COVID, the flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for the remainder of the season.
“Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and RSV, could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks,” the CDC said.