King County Health says there is growing concern of a tridemic

The King County Health Department says there is growing concerns of a local tridemic.

The latest medical term refers to a rise in three viruses at the same time. Most recently, the term has been used in reference to the rising case numbers of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.

“We are very concerned about King County expressing a high volume of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 cases this winter. And particularly the impact that this may have on our already fragile health care system,” says Dr. Eric Chow with the King County Health Department. “We’re already seeing higher volumes of RSV cases than in the last four years, particularly a steep increase in the volume over the last week. And we’re also seeing an increase in the local number of influenza cases.”

One cause for concern over rising flu cases is that some Seattle residents are struggling to book a vaccination appointment due to pharmacy availability.

“I’m going to website after website. CVS, Bartells, Rite Aid. And I’m seeing dates pushed back two, three, even four weeks,” says Sabrina Packman, a Seattle parent.

Packman says she’s struggled to find flu shots for her family in a timely manner, which makes her hesitant to go out in public without the protection of the vaccine.

“Not being able to have the protection, even to go to the grocery store. It’s really frustrating,” says Packman.

She shared her frustrations on social media, writing that finding a flu shot in Seattle was like “finding a unicorn.” Others in Seattle also took to social media to outline the long wait times (“a month away”) and the far distances for an available appointment (“50 miles”).

The King County Health Department tells KIRO 7 that the lack of appointments at some, but not all, health centers and pharmacies is not due to a lack of vaccines, but rather a lack of health care providers to administer them.

Kate Cole, with the health department, says a lack of federal funding this year has limited the size of vaccination centers as well.

“One of the differences this season compared to previous years in the pandemic is that most of the federal COVID aid that local jurisdictions like King County were receiving is no longer being sent. And so we and partners just don’t have the funds to be able to set up these large, mass vaccination sites like people were using early in the pandemic,” says Cole. “So that’s part of some of the difficulty in terms of people being able to find appointments, particularly in better resourced areas like Seattle. Because we as King County are focusing our vaccination resources on the parts of the county that have been hardest hit and have some of the fewest health care resources.”

Some health care facilities in Seattle do offer same-day walk-in vaccinations, but it can depend on insurance.

The health department says that the three viruses will continue to put a strain on hospital systems. They ask the community to still get a vaccine even if it’s inconvenient.

“Our healthcare system hospital system is already fragile, and we’re really worried about their capacity, particularly when we move into the winter months. So to be able to get these [vaccines] will certainly help protect hospital capacity and to be able to allow them to treat other people,” says Chow.

The King County Health Department offers these suggestions for anyone struggling to find a vaccine appointment, whether it be for COVID-19 or the flu:

• Check with your health care provider or pharmacy
• Vaccines.gov can help you find appointments
• Many King County school districts have school-based health centers that will provide students free vaccinations
• Some community health centers, like SeaMar and HealthPoint, offer appointments to community members. Call ahead.

©2022 Cox Media Group