Flu Season Starting Off Slowly

According to this week’s report, most states in the USA are seeing increased seasonal influenza activity.

The Influenza A (H3N2) viruses were most commonly reported for the week ending November 25, 2017, and H3N2 has been the predominant virus so far this season.

Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma reported widespread flu activity, ten other states reported regional flu activity and 24 states reported local influenza activity.

The current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the 2017-2018 season can be found at FluView and at this interactive site. 

Additionally, the proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.3%, which is slightly above the national baseline of 2.2%.

According to this new study, during the years between 2010–2016, the incidence of symptomatic influenza among vaccinated and unvaccinated USA residents, including both medically attended and non-attended infections, was approximately 8%.

This infection rate varied from 3% to 11% during those years.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an injectable flu vaccine as soon as possible.

People 65 years and older can get any injectable flu shot, that is approved for use in that age group.

This includes cell-based, recombinant and flu shots made using traditional egg-based manufacturing processes.

There are two vaccines designed specifically for people 65 and older.  

A high dose vaccine and an adjuvant vaccine. Most pharmacies in the USA offer several FDA approved flu vaccines.

The flu shot cost varies depending on your insurance and which state you live.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

Flu vaccine discounts can be found here.

For further information on influenza, please visit the CDC website.