In what some health experts are calling the “triple-demic,” hospitals across the Monterey Bay Area have seen a substantial increase in hospitalizations due to influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV.
“The number of patients requiring hospitalization is more than we ever saw during the worse surges of COVID,” said Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System chief medical officer Dr. Allen Radner.
Despite the increase, he says patients aren’t as sick as they were during the peak of COVID-19. One of the most common things Radner is seeing is patients that haven’t been vaccinated recently, especially older adults.
“It's just very frustrating for us when we see people come to the hospital with particularly vaccine-preventable illnesses that could have been prevented,” Radner said.
Dr. David Ghilarducci echoes those same concerns. He serves as the public health officer for San Benito County and as deputy health officer for Santa Cruz County. He says the three hospitals under his jurisdiction have recently been at over 95% capacity.
“It's not a time to panic. But it is time to reinstitute some of the things we know how to do so well,” Ghilarducci said. “I know it's been nice to let our guard down a little bit, but during this sort of peak time, this is a good time to protect yourself and protect your family.”
Ghilarducci says you can do that by wearing a mask in public spaces, staying home if you’re sick, and getting vaccinated.
The Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System is one of KAZU's many business supporters.