and the recommend people get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV heading into respiratory virus season.
The county on Friday hosted , who toured the main vaccine site with Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, County Judge Clay Jenkins, and DCHHS director Philip Huang.
Cohen said it鈥檚 important to be proactive.
鈥淲e know we鈥檙e going to see more COVID, more flu, and we鈥檙e already in Texas seeing a high amount of RSV,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, we want folks to use the tools to protect themselves, most importantly鈥etting vaccinated.鈥�
In Dallas County, cases of flu and COVID-19 both increased slightly in October. The county saw between 50-90 positive flu cases during the weeks of Oct. 14 to Oct. 28, with between 4-7 hospitalizations during that time period. For COVID-19, the county averaged between 15-30 new positive cases a day last month. Data from Nov. 15 showed about .
But that鈥檚 not the case with RSV. Cook Children鈥檚 in Fort Worth and Children鈥檚 Health in Dallas both warned parents recently that their emergency departments are being overwhelmed with the number of patients coming in with virus symptoms.
Since October, the number of positive RSV tests has climbed every week in the DFW Metroplex. Data from showed at the end of September, less than 10% of RSV tests were coming back positive. Now, it鈥檚 almost 35%.
鈥淩SV typically starts around this time,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淚t generally does start in the South [and] Southeast. So, it鈥檚 not surprising that we see it here in Texas first. But we do see pretty high levels of RSV circulating right now.鈥�
Cohen encourages kids and families, including people who are pregnant, to get the RSV vaccine. But , including .
The CDC director said some of the vaccine manufacturers didn鈥檛 anticipate the demand, which is one reason for the shortage. The this week to pediatricians and hospitals across the country in response.
鈥淭here are more doses getting out there, and I know parents are frustrated,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淐all your pediatrician and make sure they know that you want the updated immunization for RSV.鈥�
She also encouraged people who are pregnant to get the maternal RSV vaccine. The 鈥減eople who are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September through January鈥� get vaccinated.
Cohen said overall she wants to make sure Texans have a 鈥渉appy and healthy Thanksgiving鈥� by being proactive about their health.
鈥淢ake sure you鈥檙e getting vaccinated,鈥� she said. 鈥淯se layers of protection as you get into Thanksgiving. Take tests with you, and make sure you鈥檙e testing yourself next week if you feel sick.鈥�
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available at and DCHHS clinics. COVID-19 vaccines for adults and children are free at the county鈥檚 clinics
Flu vaccines could cost anywhere between , depending on insurance coverage. Often these vaccinations are free .
The county鈥檚 main clinic, at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for walk-ins and scheduled appointments. Child immunization clinics are also open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
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