Flu hospitalizations in Santa Clara County are more than 11 times the level recorded during the same week last year, a county health official told KTVU in its Oct. 6 report. County health officials are urging Palo Alto residents to get vaccinated before the holiday season.

The official said flu hospitalizations began at the end of August this year, roughly three months earlier than last season. Influenza virus levels were high in all four of the county's wastewater sewersheds as of the report.

The county's Public Health Department issued an advisory Tuesday, Oct. 6 recommending updated COVID and flu shots for everyone 6 months and older.

No flu deaths had been reported in Santa Clara County as of Tuesday, Oct. 6, the official told KTVU.

Dr. Sarah Rudman, health officer and director of Santa Clara County Public Health, said in the Tuesday advisory that high-risk groups need to act quickly. "It's especially important for pregnant people, very young children, and older adults to get the updated shots because they are most likely to have serious illness when their bodies encounter these viruses," Rudman said.

The county's advisory states all three fall vaccines, for COVID, flu and RSV, can be given at the same time for people eligible to receive them. It takes up to two weeks for the body to build protection against COVID and flu after vaccination.

The county advises pregnant people and older adults to ask their doctor about eligibility for RSV vaccination. Babies can receive protection through vaccination during pregnancy or an antibody injection given to the infant, according to CDC guidance.

Residents with health insurance can get vaccinated at their doctor's office or local pharmacy, typically at no out-of-pocket cost. Uninsured and Medicaid-eligible children up to age 18 can receive shots at no cost through the federal Vaccines for Children program; more than 100 county doctors are enrolled.

Uninsured adults can use the MyTurn Vaccine Locator to find a provider. For help enrolling in health coverage, residents can call 1-866-967-4677.

The county has also relaunched a public data dashboard tracking COVID, flu and RSV levels through wastewater analysis. Residents can search for vaccination sites by zip code at sccvaccinate.org.