According to the most recent FluView report, seasonal influenza activity is increasing in the United States; several flu activity indicators were higher than what has previously been seen in recent years. However, the proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness was 1.9% and is below the national baseline of 2.2%.
As we know, the flu vaccine is the best way to protect the ones you love from influenza. Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people) and serious problems related to the flu can happen at any age. Adults aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), pregnant women and young children become high-risk patients if they develop serious flu-related complications. CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an injectable flu vaccine as soon as possible to prevent illness, doctor’s visits and hospitalizations.
Updates to the 2017-2018 influenza can be found here.
Great Plains QIN has free resources available on our immunizations page that you can use and hang in your office that encourages patients, staff and their family members to get vaccinated. You can even connect and spread the awareness through social media, using #FighFlu in your tweets and post. The CDC has many free resources and toolkits available for use as well. Remember, #FightFlu and assist in communicating the importance of vaccination in your community. By getting vaccinated, you can help protect yourself, your family at home and your patients.