Absences rising in Polk County schools from COVID-19, flu. What you should know to be safe
As COVID-19 activity spikes statewide, Polk County schools are seeing a rise in student and staff absences because of respiratory illnesses.
Polk County Health Department officials say over the four-week period between Nov. 20 and Dec. 20, schools across the county have been seeing high rates of student absences because of viruses circulating locally, including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.
On Wednesday, just ahead of the winter break, two schools reported a student absentee rate of more than 10%. In addition, more than a third of county schools, 35%, had 5% or more of their students absent due to illness, local public health officials say.
This comes as respiratory viral activity is ramping up across the state, resulting in a surge in new infections ahead of the end-of-year holidays.
"This increase, coupled with low vaccine rates and holiday gatherings, could lead to more severe disease and increased health care capacity strain in the coming weeks. This increase in respiratory activity could also affect school absentee rates," said Madisun VanGundy, public health communications officer for the Polk County Health Department. "And every year, we also see an uptick in respiratory cases after the holidays. More people gathering means more germs shared and spread."
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Over the course of that four-week period, the majority of school days — about 58% — saw at least one school reporting 10% absenteeism from illness. Some schools had 10% absenteeism for multiple days in a row, local public health officials say.
In total, five Polk County schools reported student absences surpassed 10% for "one or more school days" from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.
More: COVID, RSV and flu shots: What do I need to know about the latest winter vaccines?
What's the current activity of COVID-19, flu and RSV?
Iowa has a 20% positivity rate for new COVID-19 infections as of the week of Dec. 9, the latest data available from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
An increase in COVID-19 spread has also been detected locally through the the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority's surveillance system, which measures COVID-19 concentration in the wastewater of more than 500,000 residents in the metro.
Iowa is in a "medium" level for new hospital admissions for COVID-19, with 345 individuals admitted to a hospital in the state because of the coronavirus as of Dec. 9, federal health data shows. That's an 8% increase from the week before, and a 58% increase from the previous four weeks.
Polk County Health Department officials also say Iowa hospitals have seen a 250% increase in hospital admissions for influenza and a 60% increase in RSV admissions across all age groups over the past four weeks.
More: Polk County residents urged to get COVID boosters amid rising virus levels in wastewater
Which Des Moines area school districts are seeing an increase in illness?
Des Moines and Waukee schools have both seen absences from illness reach 10% in recent weeks.
Iowa school districts are required to report to county health departments when a school's absentee rate is 10% or higher because of illness.
On Dec. 15, nine Des Moines schools reached the 10% threshold, said Phil Roeder, Des Moines Public Schools spokesperson. Student and staff absences for illness are monitored separately.
"DMPS has not had to close schools or cancel events due to illnesses, however," Roeder said.
Recently, South Middle School in Waukee had one day where 11% of absences were related to illness, said Kayla Choate, the district's spokesperson.
Southeast Polk and Urbandale school districts have not had any schools with absences reaching 10% because of illness.
Have any Iowa schools closed recently because of illness?
Earlier this month, Janesville Consolidated School District closed for two days and canceled events after 127 of its approximately 500 students and 13 staff members were absent, according to the district's Facebook page.
During the closure, school district officials took learning online to allow time for staff to clean and disinfect district buildings.
What is the vaccination rate in Iowa for COVID-19, flu?
So far this year, vaccination rates for COVID-19 and influenza in Iowa have been low compared to previous years, prompting local public health officials to encourage Iowans to seek out the shots soon.
Just 2.9% of children in Iowa between the ages of 6 months and 17 years have an updated COVID-19 shot as of Dec. 2, according to the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, 27.8% of adults age 18 and older in Iowa have received the new vaccine.
In Polk County, just 12.4% of residents are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, the county health department says.
As of Monday, 30% of the state's population have received a flu shot, according to state data.
Twenty-six percent of Polk County residents have received the latest flu shot so far this year, a drop from the roughly 40% average flu shot rate among county residents over the past 6 years, local health officials say.
More: Vaccine fatigue at work: Only 8% of Iowa nursing home workers have up-to-date COVID shots
Waning COVID-19 vaccination rates are not a surprise, said Lina Tucker Reinders, executive director of the Iowa Public Health Association. As COVID-19 becomes part of the routine seasonal respiratory viral season, it’s not surprising that interest in getting the vaccine is beginning to align closer to typical uptake of other seasonal vaccines, such as the flu shot.
“We’ve always had a problem with flu vaccine rates every year being lower than we want to see, so it doesn’t surprise me that COVID is similar,” Tucker Reinders said. “If you’re not seeking out the flu shot and if you’re not worried about the flu, it makes sense that you’d be less worried about getting a COVID shot or even getting COVID-19.”
Polk County residents can find free or low-cost vaccines through the health department’s vaccine finder, immunizepolk.com. Iowans can also find other options for vaccine appointments through vaccines.gov.
Are flu and COVID vaccines required for Iowa schools?
Students are not required to get the COVID or flu vaccine to attend school.
Does the Des Moines school district offer vaccine clinics?
While Des Moines Public Schools does not offer vaccine clinics, it does have health clinics at Hoover High School, 4800 NW Aurora Ave., and Kurtz Opportunity Center, 1000 Porter Ave., said Melissa Abbott, the district's health services supervisor.
The clinics offer mandated vaccines and optional shots including the flu and COVID-19.
Families can make an appointment by contacting their local Primary Health Care clinic or the nurse at their child's school, Abbott said.
Do school districts still give out COVID-19 tests?
Several Des Moines metro school districts said they do not give out COVID tests.
At the height of the pandemic, Waukee Community School District had COVID tests available, but that practice has been discontinued, Choate said.
Des Moines Public Schools — which closed its last COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in October 2022 — does not provide tests.
The tests are available through the U.S. Postal Service and the Polk County Health Department, said Phil Roeder, the district’s spokesperson.
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“We do encourage everyone to follow basic measures to lower the spread of anything contagious, such as staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, and covering coughs and sneezes,” he said. “Students and staff may wear masks if they wish.”
How can I stay healthy during the respiratory viral season?
Health officials say getting vaccinated for COVID-19, flu and RSV, if eligible, is the best step to ensuring you and your loved ones have protection from a serious illness. Vaccines are available at doctor’s offices, local pharmacies or through the Polk County Health Department.
“With the increasing hospitalization rates we’re seeing with respiratory viruses, we urge the community to get their updated respiratory shots,” Polk County Health Department Director Helen Eddy said in a statement. “Getting the updated shots will not only protect you, but protect our community’s health and prevent hospital overwhelm.”
Local health officials also encouraged individuals to follow good hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing and staying home when feeling sick.
Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.
Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: COVID, flu hit Des Moines, Polk County schools ahead of winter break
