Dive Brief:
- According to the CDC, 47% of the U.S. population age 6 months and older received a flu shot during the 2014-2015 season, up 41% five years ago.
- The highest coverage is among children age 6 months through 23 months at 75% and the lowest coverage is for adults age 18 to 49 at 40%. Healthcare workers have higher vaccination rates at 77%, up to 90% in hospital settings.
- Flu-related hospitalizations among those age 65 and up last season were the highest ever recorded since record-keeping of this type started a decade ago. There were also 145 lab-confirmed flu-associated pediatric deaths last year.
Dive Insight:
The CDC suggests a three-step approach to fighting the flu: vaccination, preventative measures like avoiding close contact with sick people and frequent handwashing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand solutions. Antiviral drugs are an option for those very sick with flu or who have a high risk of flu complications. Those age 65 and up and younger adults with health risks need to have a pneumococcal vaccine as pneumonia can be a deadly complication of influenza.
This year, two influenza virus strains have been changed in the vaccines based on what experts expect to be circulating. There are different influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B (Yamagata lineage) components compared to last year. Vaccine options include traditional flu shot, a nasal spray and intradermal vaccine, a high-dose vaccine for those over 65 and a recombinant (egg-free) vaccine.
"In addition to preventing hospitalizations, getting vaccinated and avoiding influenza also means avoiding extra medical costs, and not missing work or school," said Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, professor of medicine and director, Center for Vaccine Development at the Univesity of Maryland School of Medicine at a CDC news conference. "While influenza is unpredictable, we do know that every year, people get sick, and some are hospitalized and some die from influenza. So your best odds are to get the flu vaccine annually to keep yourself and other protected."