Free Flu Shots Offered In Laguna Niguel As 'Tripledemic' Arrives

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — The "tripledemic" that officials have been warning Californians may have already reached Orange County. Officials declared a health emergency on Tuesday, pointing to a sharp rise in cases of the respiratory infection RSV, combined with COVID-19 and flu.

Authorities are urging residents to update vaccinations and take precautions after the county declared a health emergency Tuesday, citing a record number of pediatric hospitalizations and emergency room visits, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

"While there isn't a vaccine against RSV, we want OC residents to know there are many ways to protect children and at-risk individuals. Following preventive measures, including remaining up to date with other vaccinations such as flu and COVID-19, can help reduce the severity of disease and can help reduce the burden on hospitals this fall and winter," Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said in a statement.

In Laguna Niguel, the nearest Walgreens at 30192 Town Center Dr is offering free flu shots as well as vaccines for COVID-19, shingles, whooping cough and pneumonia. Walgreens pharmacies allow patients to sign up for up to four vaccines at once. Find a location near you using this search.

Walgreens has more than 500 pharmacy locations across California.

In neighboring Dana Point, free immunizations are also offered at Albertsons at 33601 Del Obispo.

Californians have spent nearly three years enduring surges of COVID-19 each winter, but this year, flu activity is more than 10 times higher nationwide when compared to last year. Flu season more than doubled last week, according to an Oct. 24 report from Walgreens Flu Index.

“As we return to pre-pandemic activities and spend more time indoors without a mask or social distancing, we are more vulnerable to respiratory infections,”Anita Patel, vice president of pharmacy services development at Walgreens, said in a statement.
What's more, cases of RSV, a fairly common illness that can cause breathing difficulties in young children, are uncharacteristically high in California for this time of year, straining capacity in local hospitals.

Prevention methods used to ward off COVID-19 had kept influenza and RSV cases relatively low for the last two and a half years, experts have said. With masking mandates and other restrictions disappearing, this winter season could bring the flu and other respiratory viruses back with a vengeance, according to multiple reports.

“It’s like RSV took a two year sabbatical, was working out twice a day, meditating, eating well, and is now back and showing off,” tweeted Jessica Myers, a pediatric hospitalist in Palo Alto.

Another warning has come from Australia, which saw an astonishing winter peak of flu cases. Cases reached a height not seen since at least 2017, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Nationally, some 7,334 RSV tests came back positive for the week ending Oct. 15, up from 6,518 the prior week and 5,210 the week before that, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

READ MORE: RSV Cases Rise In CA: 5 Things To Know About ‘Tripledemic’ Threat

Currently there are no vaccinations that work to prevent RSV but a couple of pharmaceutical companies are working to develop vaccines.

Health officials have said the rise in RSV cases makes it more important than ever to get vaccinated for both COVID-19 and influenza to free up hospital space.

"Mostly the issue is there's low population immunity and kids are, once again, gathered again, and this is facilitating rapid spread of viruses like RSV," Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital, told ABC News.

"And because of the sheer volume of infection, when you have that larger denominator, you have a situation where a portion of those kids are going to require hospital treatment. And because of that, our hospitals are spread thin, not only for bed capacity, but also for critical staffing of those beds."

The Orange County Health Care Agency recommended that parents seek medical attention immediately for children showing warning signs, which may include difficulty breathing, signs of dehydration, persistent or high fever, or looking or acting very sick.

The Health Care Agency also offered a list of preventive actions:
-- Do not go to school or work when you are symptomatic.
-- Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick, and when you are sick.
-- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands. Mask when indoors or large group settings.
-- Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after eating and using the bathroom.
-- Get flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines to prevent complications from these viral illnesses.

Patch editor Rachel Barnes and City News Service contributed to this report.