Flu Season is Underway; We Still Need to Be Vaccinating Patients
According to this week’s FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal influenza activity continues to increase slightly in the United States. Flu activity most often peaks in February and can last into May. The vast majority of circulating influenza viruses analyzed this season remain similar to the vaccine virus components for this season’s influenza vaccines.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. If you don’t provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to a clinic or pharmacy that provides vaccines or to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplaces or homes that offer influenza vaccination services. Influenza antiviral drugs can treat influenza illness. CDC has issued guidance for clinicians on the use of antiviral treatment in the 2015–16 flu season. Early antiviral treatment works best.
Following is a list of additional resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public:
• CDC’s Seasonal Flu web section
• CDC’s Free Resources related to influenza
• National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit website
• The Summit Buzz: Newsletter of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit
• Influenza web page on immunize.org
• Immunization Action Coalition’s handouts related to influenza
• Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System—IVATS: a resource for health care settings looking to purchase influenza vaccine
Together, we play an important role in helping to educate patients about immunization recommendations. Visit our Web site to learn more, get connected and access resources and tools.