Experts encourage everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated to reduce risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Vaccination Importance: The CDC estimates that during the 2023-2024 respiratory season, flu vaccination prevented 9.8 million flu-related illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 7,900 deaths.
- Low Vaccination Rates: Only 38% of US adults say they will definitely get a flu vaccine for the 2024-2025 season, and among adults with chronic health conditions, vaccination rates have been declining, dropping to 46% from 50% in previous years.
- High-Risk Groups: Certain populations are at greater risk of severe flu complications, including adults 65 and older, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic health conditions like asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. In the 2023-2024 flu season, 94.3% of adults and 71% of children hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying medical condition.
Dec 2–6 is National Influenza Vaccination Week, and the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Diabetes Association, and National Foundation for Infectious Diseases are teaming up to urge everyone 6 months and older to get an annual flu vaccine.
In the US, flu season typically peaks between December and March. Although the best time to get vaccinated in the US is typically in the fall before flu starts widely circulating, flu vaccination is still beneficial anytime during the season, according to the organizations, which note that it is important to get vaccinated before the holidays when people spend more time traveling and indoors with their families. Experts urge those who have not yet gotten a flu vaccine to do so as soon as possible.
“Last flu season, 35% of adults hospitalized due to flu had a chronic lung disease. Since flu itself is a respiratory virus, it is imperative that people with a lung disease get vaccinated,” says Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, in a release. “Annual flu vaccination is essential to help protect against severe flu-related illness and reduce the burden on our healthcare system. By getting vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself but also helping to prevent the spread of flu in your community.”
Last Year’s Influenza Rates
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2023-2024 influenza season saw between 34 and 75 million flu cases, up to 900,000 hospitalizations, and as many as 100,000 deaths.
The 2023-2024 flu season data revealed that 94.3% of adults and 71% of children and adolescents hospitalized with the flu had at least one underlying medical condition. This underscores the need for those who are at a higher risk for severe complications to get vaccinated against the flu each year, including:
- Adults aged 65 years and older;
- Pregnant individuals; and
- Individuals with chronic health conditions, including asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
“Getting your flu vaccine is one of the most effective and proven ways to protect yourself and those around you from severe illness, hospitalizations, and even death caused by influenza. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce flu-related doctor visits and hospitalizations by 40–60% across all age groups. For older adults, children, and those with chronic health conditions, the flu vaccine is especially critical, as these groups face higher risks of complications. With flu vaccination rates lagging pre-pandemic levels, it’s more important than ever to prioritize this simple yet impactful preventive measure,” says Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention, in a release.
Flu Vaccine Rates Remain Low
According to a recent National Foundation for Infectious Diseases survey, only 38% of US adults say they will definitely get a flu vaccine during the 2024-2025 season, despite two out of three (67%) agreeing that annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Among US adults aged 18-64 years with at least one chronic health condition, only 46% received a flu vaccine last season, three percentage points lower than in 2022-2023 (49%), and four percentage points lower than in 2021-2022 (50%).
“This downward trend is troubling because people who have chronic health conditions are more likely to develop serious and even life-threatening complications from flu,” says National Foundation for Infectious Diseases medical director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr, MD, in a release. “Flu vaccines save lives, and getting vaccinated each year is the best line of defense to help protect yourself, your family, and your community from serious disease and potential complications.”
CDC estimates that during the 2023-2024 respiratory season, flu vaccination prevented 9.8 million flu-related illnesses, 120,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 7,900 flu-related deaths.
