In collaboration with Contemporary Pediatrics and Contemporary OB/GYN, we are continuing our ongoing series of roundtables where we gather a group of clinicians together to talk about specific infectious disease topics. During these discussions, they offer approaches to clinical management as it relates to various diseases and infections.
In this first roundtable episode, the panel touched upon what COVID-19 is at the end of 2024, offered insights on some of the FDA approved antivirals, and the limited treatment options for pediatric patients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) views COVID-19 as an endemic virus.1 As it circulates in perpetuity, we will continue to witness ebbs and flows in its prevalence. And certainly during the holiday season, respiratory virus incidence rates can increase due to a number of factors including families and friends gathering together, a greater frequency of travel, and people are in closed environments because of the winter climate.
Clinicians, public health officials, and interested stakeholders will always stress the importance of vaccination as the best way to prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. However, people will continue to get infected, especially as the statistics for vaccination are down.
A recent CDC MMWR report published a few weeks ago offered insights on the vaccination statistics so far into the respiratory virus season. “As of November 9, 2024, cumulative estimated coverage with 2024–2025 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines among adults aged ≥18 years was 34.7% and 17.9%, respectively. Estimated RSV vaccination coverage was 39.7% among adults aged ≥75 years and 31.6% among those aged 60–74 years at increased risk,” the authors wrote.2
Our panel of clinicians for this roundtable series includes:
- Tina Tan, MD, professor of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
- Scott Roberts, MD, associate medical director of Infection Prevention, Yale School of Medicine
- James Wilson, DO, critical care physician in private practice
- Michael Curulewski, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, BCGP infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist, Endeavor health, Northwest Community Hospital
We will continue our conversation next week, so check back then for the latest episode.
