Flu

Respiratory viruses like COVID-19 spread more effectively in colder temperatures, putting younger children and older adults at greater risk for infection.

Anyone who got sick with COVID-19 during the summer wave in South Florida has some protection against a future infection, but not full protection against germs spreading in fall and winter. Infectious disease experts recommend what shots to get now.

The spread of an avian flu virus in cattle has again brought public health attention to the potential for a global pandemic. Fighting it would depend, for now, on 1940s technology that makes vaccines from hens’ eggs.

The CDC shows a continued drop in flu hospitalizations, but other indicators were up — including states with high or very high levels for respiratory illnesses. Florida numbers are trending down.

WUWF’s Sandra Averhart recently spoke to Dr. Susan Laenger, who has been tracking the COVID-19 situation locally. Laenger is an internal medicine physician, who also serves as medical director of primary care services for Sacred Heart Medical Group.

As respiratory virus activity picks up around the country, vaccine levels remain below last year's totals, according to the CDC. Cohen has been on national blitz to improve those numbers.

Florida Department of Health data show the bug seems to be affecting kids the most, with a majority of state outbreaks in child care facilities.

The short answer is yes, but a Florida expert weighs in on how you should receive the vaccines this season ahead of another possible tripledemic.

Flu. COVID. RSV. When and how to get vaccinated against them can be confusing. Here are some of the most important things to know.

The state reported 21,949 new cases Jan. 13-19, down 6,300 from previous week and 8,000 from the week before that. The dip looks to be part of a national trend after a winter spike blamed on XBB.1.5.

States will be able to request doses of the prescription flu medication Tamiflu kept in the Strategic National Stockpile. The Biden administration is not releasing how many doses will be made available.

Walgreens will limit online orders of children's fever and pain medicine to six items "to help support availability and avoid excess purchases." At CVS stores, purchases will be limited to two.