WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says respiratory illnesses are on the rise just in time for the holidays, and fewer people are vaccinated than in previous years.
Seventeen states including Virginia and D.C. are reporting high levels of respiratory illnesses.
Nationwide fewer than half of children (43.3%) and adults (42.2%) have gotten the flu vaccine and the rates for the new COVID-19 vaccine are even lower (18.3% Adults, 7.8% Children).
For RSV there is a vaccine for adults over 60 but only about 17% have gotten it.
And the CDC says there is a shortage for RSV treatment for infants.
At the same time, hospitalizations are rising.
"We don't wanna see anyone get hospitalized or die from something that has a safe and effective vaccine," Dr. Mandy Cohen the CDC Director told CBS News. "We particularly want to make sure our seniors and our kids under five get vaccinated because they have the worst outcomes from getting flu."
With COVID, health officials say the spike is being driven by the subvariant JN-1. The World Health Organization considers it a "variant of interest" and it is spreading fast. Friday, CDC officials said JN-1 now makes up 44% of COVID cases nationwide.
But doctors say the newest COVID vaccine should protect against the worst effects of this newest variant.
"It's not producing more severe disease," Dr. William Shaffner with Vanderbilt University Medical Center told CBS. "The laboratory studies would indicate that our currently updated COVID vaccine does provide protection against severe disease caused by this variant."
Andrew Pekosz, PhD, is a professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
He says his biggest concern about this triple threat of respiratory illnesses is the timing of the holiday season and big gatherings.
"People sometimes think it's too late to get the vaccine right now but it really isn't. We expect to see these viruses around for another couple of weeks so if you get immunized even today, you should provide yourself some protection for the tail end of the respiratory virus season," said Pekosz.
Experts also says if you are in a vulnerable age group or are immunocompromised, it is a good time to start wearing a mask again, especially around big groups to protect yourself.