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Commission discusses rising flu, RSV and measles concerns and low vaccine uptake; staff urge information-sharing and possible budget recommendation
Summary
Commissioners heard APH and partners describe sustained high flu incidence, lower vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitancy and the need for coordinated communications and possible budget recommendations for vaccines or programs to preserve access.
Commissioners discussed rising incidence of respiratory and vaccine-preventable illnesses—seasonal influenza, RSV, norovirus and measles—and heard staff and partners outline outreach and contingency options amid reported declines in vaccine uptake.
Austin Public Health and county health officials said they are monitoring higher-than-expected flu incidence and lower vaccine uptake this season. The director and APH staff described outreach with partners such as Central Health and Austin Independent School District and said the department will continue to distribute evidence-based messaging about vaccine efficacy and safety. APH's director said government trust challenges mean nongovernmental partners will play a role in communicating to communities that are reluctant to seek services at perceived government facilities.
Commission members asked whether the commission should propose a budget recommendation to preserve vaccine purchases and distribution if federal funding becomes restricted. APH staff said they could share collateral and messaging assets commissioners could repost and urged commissioners to coordinate messages with APH, Central Health and other partners. Staff also cautioned that the manager’s revised budget process this year may affect how and when commission recommendations are considered.
A public-health official cited CDC projections to underline the community risk from lowered vaccination coverage. "We know from the CDC projections that when a school lehi of vaccine coverage reduced is reduced to below 90 percent, that there's a 51 percent increased risk of an outbreak in that school," the official said, and noted several local areas have vaccine coverage below that threshold.
APH staff described emergency mechanisms for outbreak response: in many cases APH can access additional COVID and flu doses quickly and the state may provide measles doses during an outbreak. Commissioners requested data on age and geography of cases and asked staff to return with targeted surveillance and communication plans. No formal motions were made at the meeting.
