FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Expertos en salud de Kentucky instan a los habitantes a consultar con sus proveedores de atención médica sobre la vacunación contra la influenza, para ayudarlos a protegerse de las enfermedades durante la temporada días festivos.

La actividad de la gripe estacional se redujo drásticamente el año pasado en el punto álgido de la pandemia, pero a medida que la vida vuelve casi a la normalidad, los investigadores están preocupados por el regreso de la gripe.

El CDC recomienda vacunas contra la gripe para la mayoría de las personas mayores de 6 meses de edad, y especialmente para aquellas con alto riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones.

Allison Adams, de la Fundación por un Kentucky Saludable, dice que la mayoría de las personas pueden recibir una vacuna contra la influenza al mismo tiempo que reciben su dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna de la COVID-19.

"Ahora que aparentemente volvemos a la "normalidad" con nuestras interacciones sociales, sin máscaras y de regreso a distancias cercanas, es importante asegurarse de recibir la vacuna contra la influenza este año", aseguró también Adams.

El CDC estimó en la temporada de gripe 2019-2020, que más de 38 millones de personas en los EE. UU contrajeron influenza, y los estimados de muertes relacionadas con la gripe estacional oscilaron entre 24,000 y 62,000.

Medidas como lavarse las manos con frecuencia, cubrirse la nariz y la boca al estornudar y quedarse en casa cuando está enfermo también frenan la propagación de la gripe, junto con las precauciones de la COVID-19 sobre el uso de mascarillas y el distanciamiento social.

El CDC recomienda la vacuna de refuerzo de COVID-19 en particular para personas de 65 años o más, aquellos que viven en centros de atención a largo plazo, cualquier persona con una afección médica que aumente su riesgo de gravedad y aquellos que puedan estar expuestos en su lugar de trabajo.

Adams dice que consulte con su médico si tiene preguntas

"Creo que es muy importante asegurarse de obtener la información precisa para usted y su relación proveedor - paciente, y que pueda tomar la mejor decisión para su familia con respecto a la vacuna de la COVID-19 y contra la influenza", recomendó además la experta.

Adams señala que todos los adultos vacunados elegibles de Kentucky ahora pueden recibir cualquiera de las tres vacunas de refuerzo de COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna o Johnson & Johnson. Pero eso es independiente de la vacuna contra la influenza.

"Estamos tratando con dos virus diferentes; así que, si bien la influenza ha existido durante bastante tiempo, tenemos una vacuna que previene enfermedades y complicaciones graves", agregó Adams.

Según datos estatales, hasta esta semana, más de 59,000 habitantes de Kentucky han recibido una vacuna de refuerzo de la COVID-19.

New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure schools update their safety plans to include CPR training and an automatic external defibrillator or AED onsite.

Dr. Stephen Sanko, a professor of clinical emergency medicine at USC, and a founding member of the Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance, is a volunteer expert for the American Heart Association. He said having a plan in place is critical.

"The American Heart Association is promoting that schools have a cardiac arrest response plan. A written protocol for what to do in order to decrease the likelihood that if somebody collapses, that they die," he said.

Two years ago, 15-year-old Cash Hennessy collapsed on the football field due to a previously unknown heart defect. Two off-duty medics in the stands gave him CPR. The school brought out its AED - but it was useless, because the batteries were dead.

Hennessy said the experience was traumatic.

"I feel blessed that I had people there for me, that could give me C-P-R. But I think about if those people weren't there and that was another kid, who knows what would have happened? Because there wouldn't have been an AED to save them," he explained.

An AED walks people through the steps to deliver a life-saving shock to a person's heart until an ambulance arrives. Studies show that 70% of kids who suffer sudden cardiac arrest at school recover if an AED is deployed correctly - whereas the survival rate for kids and adults not in the hospital is less than 12%.