Clay County Health Director Clarissa Rogers explains the newly available RSV vaccine.
By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County Health Department is offering a vaccine to older adults aimed at combating the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, better known as RSV.
In a brief presentation to county commissioners on Jan. 4, Health Director Clarissa Rogers explained that RSV causes seasonal epidemics of respiratory illness and is a cause of severe respiratory illness in older adults and those with compromised immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization recently voted to recommend the single dose of the vaccine Abrysvo to individuals ages 60 and over.
The ACIP has also recommended a single dose of Abrysvo for pregnant women who are at 32-36 completed gestational weeks. The vaccine is not yet available at the health department for young children.
Abrysvo works by teaching the immune system how to defend the body against a disease, according to Rogers’ information. Abrysvo contains proteins from the surface of the RSV virus. When a person is given the vaccine, the immune system treats the viral proteins as foreign and makes defenses against them.
It was noted that the decision to vaccinate should be based on a discussion between the health care provider and patient.
Information on the number of reported RSV cases was not available from the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services web site, but in December 2023, about 250 cases were reported in the state, according to a report from ABC News in Raleigh.
The vaccine cost around $325 which Rogers said is covered by most insurances.
Call the health department at (838) 389-8052 for details.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.
• These may include:
• Congested or runny nose
• Dry cough
• Low-grade fever
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
• Headache
Severe cases
RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Severe cough
• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that’s usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen.
Infants are most severely affected by RSV. Signs and symptoms of severe RSV infection in infants include:
• Short, shallow and rapid breathing
• Struggling to breathe — chest muscles and skin pull inward with each breath
• Cough
• Poor feeding
Unusual tiredness (lethargy)
Irritability
Most children and adults recover in one to two weeks, although some might have repeated wheezing. Severe or life-threatening infection requiring a hospital stay may occur in premature infants or in anyone who has chronic heart or lung problems, according to the clinic’s web site: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus.
Regarding another matter, Rogers received the green light from commissioners to update the lowest rates in the health department’s sliding fee scale, from $30 to $40.
The health department offers a sliding fee scale, based on qualifying income rates, for the Adult Health Clinic. The scale slides down to 20 percent. Approval was made to increase the lowest cost rate by $10. Rogers said the adjustment will help compensate for the increased cost of medical services such as supplies and fees.
Uninsured client receives services and based off of their income rates, they may qualify for sliding fees at 20 percent. For example if the total cost for services is $150.Based on the adjusted sliding scale this patient would now pay $40 instead of $30.
She said this only affects the Adult Health Program.