Public health official reports rise in respiratory hospitalizations; vaccine coverage questions remain

At the Jan. 6 Health and Human Services meeting, the county's public health representative (Julie) warned of increasing respiratory hospitalizations locally and across the region and said surveillance systems are near real-time, drawing on lab tests, wastewater and emergency-department visits.

"This past week we're seeing increased numbers of respiratory hospitalizations both locally and regionally," Julie said, adding that the department is getting closer to near-real-time surveillance with a 72-hour reporting window for lab data. She cautioned that metrics can lag depending on the indicator being tracked (lab confirmations, wastewater signals or ED visits).

Committee members asked how the department will respond to fresh CDC guidance on childhood vaccination schedules that was issued that morning. Julie said she had not yet seen a Wisconsin Department of Health Services response and that many local health officers were discussing the issue; she also said it was unclear whether the Vaccines for Children program would continue to cover the newly recommended schedule or whether insurers would pick up the cost. "We haven't had any communication from vaccine for children or vaccine from adult programs at this point," she said.

Committee members reiterated public recommendations: officials continued to advise residents to get influenza shots, and the department said it will monitor any state-level policy or reimbursement guidance and provide updates.

Next steps: Public health staff will continue surveillance, follow statewide guidance as it is released, and report back to the committee on any implications for local vaccine provision and billing.