Marion Co., West Virginia, Health Dept., school system preparing for flu season amid COVID-19 pandemic

“Typically, with some other countries, their flu season will start earlier than ours, so we look at those numbers,” White said. “We do anticipate, at the very least, a heavier flu case season than we had in the last couple of years.”

White said there are several factors that may play into this flu season being worse than the last couple of years, chief among them the idea that, in 2020 and 2021, the community was more likely to take health precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as COVID fatigue sets in, that may not be as effective this year.

“We saw very few cases last year and the year before because we were doing things that we know decrease the risk of transmission,” White said. “If we would continue to do those, we would also have a decrease in cases.”

Marion County Health Department Director of Nursing Meagan Payne added that the last two years, health systems have been more focused on testing and vaccinating COVID-19 than other respiratory illnesses, a thing that might change the numbers this year, as well.

“Where before, all of the labs and testing efforts have been focused to be able to support COVID, now, we’re opening back up and doing more flu swabbing and all of that,” Payne said. “It’s going to be logical to see an increase in flu cases.”

Marion County Superintendent Dr. Donna Hage said that the school system, too, is on the lookout for a rise in flu cases.

“In essence, we’ve been preparing for it all throughout this pandemic and what we’ve faced with that,” Hage said. “Consistency has really been the thing for us at Marion County Schools, and as long as we work to remind people of those good, common sense practices of washing hands and distancing when possible and staying home when you’re sick, those are the kinds of things that we’re going to use to proactively address all that we possibly can address.”

In an effort to fight both flu and COVID-19, Fairmont State University will be holding a health fair on Oct. 10, where vaccinations for both viruses will be available to students.

While flu season is looming, officials are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over, either, and experts like White, Payne and Hage have been dealing with that, as well.

Hage reported a sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases in schools this week, with only nine students and staff members reporting the illness.

“I think it’s probably trending consistently with what we’re seeing around the nation,” Hage said. “We’re past the point where we’ve started school, and students are around each other more. … Our classrooms are set up and our activities are full speed. I think that the decrease is very hopeful, considering where we’re at for the school year.”

Meanwhile, the health department was able to resume administering COVID-19 booster vaccines this week after the bivalent dose — which protects against the Omicron and BA.5 variants of the virus — was made available.

“We’re still in the pandemic, and we still say that the best way out of a pandemic is through vaccinations,” White said. “When we have a period where we can’t vaccinate for whatever reason, then you increase the risk of additional cases, which increases the risk of hospitalizations and death. Now that we’re back and readministering the new bivalent vaccine, then that’s what we want to do, because they work.”

Payne said the health department administered nearly 100 COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses this week, and as colder weather settles in, she encouraged people to follow the established health and safety guidelines, as well as check HVAC systems and change air filters to improve ventilation.

Residents looking for a COVID-19 vaccine can visit the Health Department’s main office in Fairmont or its satellite clinic on Locust Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 304-366-3360.