Hospitalizations

• A recent study demonstrates that an updated vaccine formulation reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by approximately 50 percent during the past season. • This significant efficacy improvement represents a major advancement in vaccine development and public health protection strategies. • The findings contribute to the evolving landscape of U.S. vaccine policy, as documented in CIDRAP's latest state of vaccine policy report from April 28, 2026.

• The U.S. daily COVID-19 case average increased by 13.3% over the past week, though hospitalizations continue to decline according to federal data. • About 48,000 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, representing a decrease of nearly 104,000 patients over the past eight weeks, with hospital admissions down 11.7% weekly. • Alaska has the highest infection rate in the nation, followed by Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming, while Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii report the lowest rates.

• The SPIRIT-HF study, presented at ACC.26 in New Orleans (March 28-30, 2026), found that spironolactone increased hospitalizations and serious adverse events in patients with HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) or HFmrEF (mildly reduced ejection fraction). • Results raise significant safety questions about the drug's efficacy in these patient populations, potentially challenging current treatment protocols. • The findings were presented to cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference, the largest gathering of heart disease specialists.

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations declined 42% in the week ending March 20, 2026, compared to the peak surge in February, according to CDC surveillance data. • The decline follows the introduction of the first RSV vaccines approved for adults over 60 and high-risk populations, with over 8 million doses administered since January. • RSV typically causes severe disease in infants and older adults; the new vaccines represent a major breakthrough after decades of failed vaccine development efforts.