Great Barrington — As the CDC raises the alert about low vaccination rates and increased hospital emergencies and admissions for COVID, flu, and other respiratory illness, CHP Mobile Health is ramping up holiday season vaccine clinics throughout the Berkshires.
CHP Berkshires is especially concerned with the slow pace of vaccines for children: The CDC notes a recent increase in cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in children following COVID-19 infection in the United States. The CDC reported that, as of December 2, 2023, just 7.7 percent of children ages six months to 17 years were reported to be up to date with the 2023–24 COVID-19 vaccine.
“While it may be inconvenient, and while COVID is now often a milder illness, it’s more disappointing to lose precious holiday time with family and friends because of sickness,” said Dr. Laura Need, pediatrician and associate medical director of CHP Berkshires. ”We are especially concerned about children and encourage parents to bring their kids to one of our upcoming mobile clinics.”
The CDC states that COVID-19 vaccines begin to work immediately providing protection against illness and are generally working at full force in two weeks.
CHP Mobile Health offers COVID-19 and flu vaccines to anyone, regardless of whether they are a CHP patient (RSV vaccines are limited to CHP patients with underlying health conditions only). CHP Mobile Health also offers same-day “fast care” for anyone who may be sick, regardless of whether they are patients of CHP Berkshires.
On December 14, the CDC warned of low vaccination rates nationwide; as of December 9, just 17 percent of Massachusetts residents had received a COVID-19 vaccine, compared with 35 percent for flu. The CDC noted that “low vaccination rates and rising illness can cause health risks and strain health care capacity.”
The CDC reported on December 14 that, in the prior four weeks, hospitalizations among all age groups increased by 200 percent for influenza, 51 percent for COVID-19, and 60 percent for RSV. The state Department of Public Health also notes a statewide increase in hospitalizations for respiratory illness, including at Berkshire Medical Center.
Even a mild case of COVID-19, one that doesn’t require a hospital or doctor’s visit, can interfere with work and wages, bringing an economic fallout for some without paid sick leave.
If a patient does not have insurance, CHP will assist with insurance enrollment or provide the vaccine for free.
“No one who arrives for a vaccine with our Mobile Health team leaves without one,” said Michelle Derr, senior vice president of CHP Family Services and Mobile Health. “We can all help lower our risk of getting sick or very sick,” she said. “And we can definitely reduce our chances of spreading sickness to others around the holiday table, and under the New Year’s mistletoe.”
