Welcome to Westport Health Notes, a monthly column from the Westport Board of Health (BOH).  The goal is to share information with our community about local issues and projects, public health alerts, and even facts about the scope of responsibility that local Boards of Health manage.

Start off the new year with a resolution to keep up to date on vaccinations for you, your children and other family members. This winter has seen an especially high level of flu cases. COVID-19 and RSV infection levels had been relatively low so far this season, but are now rising. Last Monday the Department of Public Health (DPH) reported that three children and 29 adults in Massachusetts have died of influenza in the past few weeks. DPH is also reviewing two possible COVID-19-associated deaths and one RSV-associated death. 

“These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening,” DPH Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said. “We are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under capacity strain. There is a simple, effective, and available way to address these concerns: vaccines. They can prevent serious illness and hospitalization. And they save lives. If you have not yet been vaccinated against flu or COVID-19 this season, now is the time. It is not too late. Choosing vaccination is choosing to protect yourself, your family, your friends, your colleagues, and your community.”

In Massachusetts, the DPH vaccine recommendations are aligned with the Northeast Public Health Collaborative Recommendations, as well as leading physician professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  For children, families and health care providers are urged to continue using the AAP recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule, which is available on www.mass.gov.

Vaccines are covered by insurance and are available at no cost for almost all adults in Massachusetts. All vaccines for individuals younger than 18 years are supplied free of charge to health care providers through the state’s universal childhood immunization program. 

In addition to keeping up with routine childhood immunizations, DPH urges everyone 6 months of age and older to stay current with annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. These yearly shots can be given at the same time and are available from local boards of health, community health centers, pharmacies, and many health care providers. The Westport Town Nurse Linda Pierce has already provided 133 flu vaccines to community members and she still has some over 65 and regular flu vaccines available. Call 508-636-1030 to make an appointment.

Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe disease, including adults age 65 years and older, children between 6 months and 2 years old, people with chronic respiratory conditions or heart disease, individuals who are immunocompromised, and those who are pregnant. 

If you do get sick, please stay home to decrease the chance of infecting others, and for those who are at higher risk we suggest wearing a mask when out to decrease the likelihood of exposure and illness.

Note: Ryden is a member of the Westport Board of Health.