RSV, Influenza & COVID Tripledemic: Video FAQ with Dr. Meditz

“Tripledemic” refers to a collision of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 that has the potential to overwhelm hospitals’ emergency departments. Boulder County and Boulder Community Health are seeing high rates of respiratory illness in adults and children early in the winter season. Watch board-certified infectious disease specialist Amie Meditz, MD of BCH's Beacon Center for Infectious Disease answer your questions about the tripledemic so you can keep yourself and your family safe and healthy. 0:06 - Is the updated COVID-19 booster safe? The new COVID-19 vaccine is the original vaccine updated to include immunity against the highly-contagious Omicron variant. This is the same way we update the flu vaccine every year. This vaccine has an excellent safety profile. 0:32 - Who should get vaccinated this season? Everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine, and everyone 5 years and older should get the new COVID-19 booster. These vaccines help protect us from getting an infection, getting severe disease, and being hospitalized. The COVID-19 booster also protects against long COVID. 1:15 - If I just had COVID-19, do I need a booster? Yes, infection provides some immunity, but it wanes quickly. It is recommended to get a booster about 3 months after COVID-19 infection. 1:46 - Apart from vaccines, what else can we do to protect ourselves from respiratory illness? Masking is a great way to protect ourselves and others. 2:27 - RSV is running rampant in the community, why is this? Due to isolation during the pandemic over the last few years, kids were not getting infected with RSV as much as usual. Now that most kids are back at school or in childcare, many more infections are happening all at once. 2:59 - What are the signs and symptoms of RSV, and when should I take my child to the ED? Runny nose, sneezing, fever & decreased appetite. If your child is in respiratory distress or their lips turn blue, take them to the Emergency Department. 3:20 - Is this year going to be especially bad for respiratory viruses? Yes, this season has been termed a "tripledemic" due to increased rates of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Please increase your mask use to help control spread and protect yourself. 4:18 - Do I still need to wear a mask at BCH? Yes, masks are required at BCH to protect our vulnerable patients and our critical health care staff.