The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported only 40 percent of Americans have received this season’s flu vaccine. It’s about the same coverage as the prior season—but well behind the agency’s target of 70 percent.
There were bright spots in the CDC report, such as a 6 percent increase in the number of pregnant women being vaccinated, but the rates among adults (41 percent) and children from six months to 17 years old (37 percent) have led the agency to make a late-season vaccination push.
“We are glad to see that people are making the decision to protect themselves and their families from flu, but coverage is still low and we urge people to get vaccinated if they haven't yet,” said Nancy Messonnier, MD, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “We have a tool that is proven to prevent flu illness and hospitalization but millions of people are not taking advantage of it. Too many people are unprotected.”
The cost of going unvaccinated against the flu has been estimated to be $5.8 billion annually, according to a University of North Carolina study. During the 2015-16 season, vaccinations were estimated to lower confirmed cases of the flu and associated hospitalizations by 19 percent.
The CDC had been particularly concerned about a 3 percent drop in vaccinations among adults 50 years or older last season. The survey results through November 2016 didn’t indicate whether those numbers would rebound this year.
Early estimates did find a troubling decline in vaccinations among healthcare personnel at long-term care facilities. Nearly 70 percent of those workers were vaccinated last season, but, so far, only 55 percent have received this season’s flu shot.
“It is really important that healthcare workers get vaccinated and especially important that we continue to make progress vaccinating health care workers who work in long-term care facilities," Messonnier said. "Many of the most frail and vulnerable people live in these facilities and we know that vaccinating their caregivers helps protect them."
Vaccinations among all healthcare providers remains steady from last season at 69 percent.
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.