Rising Respiratory Illnesses Spark Concerns, Pasadenans Urged to Take Preventative Measures

Southern California’s recent surges of influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19 have health officials on heightened alert, prompting warnings of a potential “tripledemic.” The situation is not as dire as last year, but Pasadena officials are urging residents to stay vigilant. 

Dr. Manuel Carmona, Acting Director of Public Health in Pasadena, told Pasadena Now that the city, like the broader Los Angeles region, is witnessing an uptick in respiratory illnesses, including influenza and COVID-19. He said the increase is partly attributed to holiday gatherings during Halloween and Thanksgiving which facilitated transmission of viruses, mirroring patterns seen in previous years.

“The Pasadena Public Health Department continues to urge everyone to practice good prevention measures and remain up to date with their vaccinations,” Carmona said. “That is the best way to protect yourself this holiday season.” 

Dr. Carmona said vaccination rates for COVID-19, flu, and RSV are not explicitly tracked in Pasadena. However, the Public Health Department is actively promoting vaccination by offering free flu vaccines and participating in programs to provide COVID-19 boosters to eligible residents. The department also ensures accessibility to vaccines, especially for vulnerable populations, through various initiatives.

“The Pasadena Public Health Department offers flu vaccines at no cost,” he said. “The Department also participates in the California Bridge Access Program which makes COVID-19 boosters available to uninsured and underinsured residents 19 years and older. We also offer COVID-19 vaccines, RSV vaccines for infants, and other vaccines to children from families who are uninsured or otherwise might not be vaccinated because of inability to pay through the Vaccines for Children Program.”

While the current situation aligns with recent holiday seasons, Carmona emphasizes the data may underestimate the actual trend due to factors like at-home COVID antigen tests not requiring reporting. 

“We continue to monitor hospitalization rates and other measures to see if this season varies from last year when we saw high rates of cases but less COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths than previous years,” he said. 

But what’s more important, he says, is for people to follow CDC recommendations for a healthy holiday season: stay home if you’re sick, cover your cough or sneeze, stay away from people who are sick, and if you are unaware of your risk, wear a well-fitting mask especially when you travel or are in large groups. 

“In Pasadena, we usually have lovely weather in the winter. For nice days, opening doors and windows increases ventilation and also decreases your risk of transmitting respiratory illnesses,” Carmona said. “If you do get sick, treatments are available. Consult with your physician about which options are right for you and of course stay home and away from people to prevent further spread.” 

Carmona said predicting trends in respiratory illnesses is challenging, relying on state-level surveillance and projections. The focus, he said, remains on encouraging vaccination and adherence to preventive measures to mitigate the impact of respiratory viruses.

Vaccinations for COVID-19, RSV and other potential illnesses are available Mondays and Wednesdays at the Public Health Department’s Immunization Clinic between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The clinic is at 1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

For more information, visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/ or call (626) 744-6000.