Texas' Updated Respiratory Disease Dashboard Offers Real-Time Vaccination Insights

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today announced that it has updated its Interactive Respiratory Disease Dashboard to include updated hospitalization reporting and more visual features.

DSHS's dashboard, launched in January 2024, also includes information on emergency department visits, fatalities from influenza, and other respiratory viruses and is accessible through the Texas Health Data website.

Texans and healthcare professionals can use the information to gain real-time, actionable insights, which is essential at this time of year. Last week, Texas influenza-like illness activity increased to 'moderate,' with some neighboring states, including Louisiana, reporting 'high' levels.

In addition to the dashboard, DSHS publishes a weekly Texas Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report with laboratory results, outpatient influenza-like illness surveillance, regional and county-level data, and more.

"These great tools help us show you what is happening regarding respiratory illnesses in your community with data and easy-to-follow visuals," said DSHS Chief State Epidemiologist Varun Shetty, MD, MBA, MS, in a media release on December 9, 2024.

"Our goal is to empower you with the information you need to stay safe this season."

The respiratory virus season traditionally runs from October to May, and DSHS recommends that Texans get immunized to protect themselves and their families from severe illness, hospitalization, and even death.

From an availability perspective, over 92 million flu shots have been distributed in the U.S., targeting the 2024-2025 flu season. These vaccines are generally available at health clinics and community pharmacies throughout Texas.

"With this new DSHS information, pharmacists on main-street can easily communicate the latest respiratory trends to their patients,' said Jeanne Waggener, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and an Honorary Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy.

"These last weeks of December are the peak time for viruses to spread, especially with family and work celebrations bringing people together. It's essential everyone speaks with their pharmacist about medications and vaccine options," added Waggener.

Additionally, the U.S. CDC encourages international travelers to speak with a travel vaccine expert about vaccination options at least one month before traveling abroad for the winter holidays.