Insurance claims that were billed to Medicare provided information about flu vaccination rates and influenza-related illnesses among more than 3 million Medicare patients during the same period.
Advertisement
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone six months and older get an annual flu shot.
With the pending arrival of fall next week, Greenwich health officials are looking to stave off the flu season. For that reason, the CDC and health care officials are encouraging everyone to get flu vaccinations now. Doctors say this year is expected to be different. This year’s flu vaccine will protect against seasonal flu.
As part of a campaign to encourage students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated the University of Louisville is now offering free flu shots. “I don’t think most people realize that thousands of people die every year in the United States from complications of influenza, probably more than 30,000 people”, warns Dr. Eisenson.
“The public shouldn’t be discouraged in terms of not getting the flu shot”.
This year show the community what you will do when you don’t have the flu!
While that change may somewhat limit the effectiveness of the vaccine, vaccination remains nonetheless an important way to limit the spread and severity of the flu, Vargas said.
Individuals seeking vaccine have many options beyond the typical shot including a high dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older, a “short needle” intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 through 64 years of age, and nasal-spray vaccine.
“In addition to preventing hospitalizations, getting vaccinated and avoiding influenza also means avoiding extra medical costs, and not missing work or school”, said Neuzil.
“Unfortunately, the flu virus is constantly changing”, said Vargas. The new vaccine will still contain the deactivated 2009 H1N1 virus plus a new influenza B strain and a new H3N2 strain – the one thought to cause the most illnesses last season.
“Because undiagnosed H3N2 was the predominant strain last year … this year’s vaccine strand has that subset of the flu in it”.
Advertisement
“At the moment, we have reasonable confidence that we are going to have a good match between the circulating virus of what’s out there and what’s in the vaccine”, Schaffner said.
