Mississippi ICU capacity decreasing as COVID-19 and flu cases climb

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Roll up your sleeve and get vaccinated. It sounds acquainted, proper? State well being officers say there’s an pressing motive so that you can take their recommendation.

It’s a cycle all of us turned acquainted with on the peak of COVID-19. Medical doctors are but once more asking that you simply take the steps to guard your self, particularly vaccination, in hopes that it’s going to hold you out of already full hospitals.

“The message will get your flu vaccine if you happen to haven’t executed if you happen to’re eligible for the bivalent booster vaccine,” described State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “Please get it now. Should you’ve by no means began the COVID-19 vaccine, now’s an incredible alternative.”

The state’s working out of room on the hospitals. The state well being officer is especially involved concerning the ICU capability. When it drops on the bigger hospitals, it sparks a domino impact that places rural hospitals in a bind.

“I simply met with a rural hospital affiliation and so they’re combating having the ability to switch to a better stage of care due to this,” mentioned State Well being Officer Dr. Dan Edney. “And we’ve been having numerous transfers having to exit of state due to problem with capability.”

That scarcity of beds impacts greater than COVID-19 and flu sufferers as a result of these stage one and two hospitals are those that deal with all the things from trauma to coronary heart assaults and strokes. Add onto that, it’s an issue in additional than Mississippi.

“As of midday, among the Tennessee amenities weren’t accepting the transfers,” mentioned MSDH Senior Deputy Jim Craig.

Neither have been some in Alabama.

Flu numbers are nonetheless excessive however displaying some small indicators of dropping. In the meantime, COVID-19 circumstances are on the upswing. Early on, some medical doctors have been advising ready 90 days from an infection to the following COVID-19 shot. We requested what the well being division recommends.

“Should you’ve been not too long ago contaminated, don’t depend on that an infection that you simply needed to give you the extent of immunity that you simply want transferring ahead,” mentioned Dr. Byers. “However actually, you simply should be over the acute an infection and not symptomatic to go forward and get that booster.”

Each the COVID-19 boosters and flu photographs can be found at county well being departments. And do not forget that it takes about two weeks for the flu shot to be absolutely efficient. So, get it now to be protected by Christmas.

Need extra WLBT information in your inbox? Click on right here to subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Copyright 2022 WLBT. All rights reserved.