How Do Flu Vaccines Work
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with circulating influenza viruses.
Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. All flu vaccines in the United States are quadrivalent vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A virus, an influenza A virus, and two influenza B viruses.
Reasons For Refusing The Flu Vaccine
It is certainly reasonable to ask why so many people, both in and out of healthcare, decide not to get vaccinated against influenza each year. Studies that investigate why a segment of the population does not accept vaccination have highlighted lack of knowledge, misperceptions, and distrust of vaccines. Ironically, another reason cited is a low perceived risk because the incidence has declined as a result of vaccination programs .
Surveys in Europe and the United States have found that low seasonal vaccination coverage rates are influenced by inadequate recommendation by general practitioners, poor public awareness of influenza and influenza vaccines, a lack of proactive reminder systems, and a fear of needles .
Examining misconceptions about vaccination provides some context about why many people forgo the influenza vaccine each year:
- Fear that the immune system will be overloaded by vaccines, especially in children.
- The belief that many common diseases have disappeared and it is no longer necessary to vaccinate against them.
- The belief that more vaccinated than unvaccinated people get sick.
- The belief that hygiene and better nutrition are responsible for the reduction in disease rates, not vaccination.
- The belief that natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity.
Main Reason Reported for Not Getting the Flu Vaccine Among Healthcare Personnel Not Planning to Get One in 20162017 Internet Panel Survey, November 2016, USA
Knowledge Attitudes And Beliefs About The Flu Shot
- Majority of people agreed that the flu vaccine is safe and 91% believed that they understand why the flu vaccine is recommended annually.
- However, 16% of adults strongly agreed and 25% somewhat agreed that the flu vaccine does not protect them against the flu.
- About the same proportions strongly or somewhat agreed that they might get the flu from the flu vaccine which is not possible for any flu vaccine.
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Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Survey Results 2019
The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Survey is a yearly telephone survey that collects information about the flu shot in Canada. Each flu season, the survey estimates how many people get the flu shot as well as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the flu shot. This year, the participants were also questioned about the sources of information regarding the flu shot.
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Flu Vaccination Coverage United States 201819 Influenza Season
FluVaxViewwebpage report posted online September 26, 2019
To improve flu vaccination coverage, healthcare providers are encouraged to offer influenza vaccination during routine health care visits and hospitalizations, continuing to offer vaccination as long as influenza viruses are circulating. For people who cannot visit a doctors office during the flu season, there are alternative and convenient places available for flu vaccinations. Improvements in vaccination coverage could provide greater benefit in a recently published study, CDC estimated that increasing coverage by five percentage points could have prevented another 4,000 to 11,000 hospitalizations, depending on the severity of the season.
Vaccine Supply And Distribution
How much influenza vaccine is projected to be available for the 2021-2022 influenza season?
Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so supply depends on manufacturers. Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply the United States with as many as 188 million to 200 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season. These projections may change as the season progresses. All flu vaccines for the 2021-2022 season will be quadrivalent . Most will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced vaccine and about 18% of flu vaccines will be egg-free.
Where can I find information about vaccine supply?
Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy
People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza vaccine that is otherwise appropriate. People who have a history of severe egg allergy should be vaccinated in a medical setting, supervised by a health care provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Two completely egg-free flu vaccine options are available: quadrivalent recombinant vaccine and quadrivalent cell-based vaccine.
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Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
On June 30, 2022, CDC announced that Director Rochelle P. Walensky adopted the Decision memo approving the ACIP vote for a preferential recommendation for the use of higher dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines over standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older. CDCs full recommendations for the use of flu vaccines during 2022-2023 will appear in a forthcoming Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Edits to this page are also forthcoming. More information can be found online: CDC Director Adopts Preference for Specific Flu Vaccines for Seniors
Note: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices United States, 2021-2022 Influenza Season has been . More information on the 2021-2022 season is also available.
Despite Risks 60% Of Americans Say They May Delay Or Skip The Flu Shot This Year
Survey Highlights:
- Three in five Americans say they may delay or skip the flu shot this year.
- Almost all of those who got the flu shot for the 2020-21 flu season say they plan to get their flu shot again this year.
- 57% of Hispanic respondents said COVID-19 had an impact on their flu shot decision compared to 38% of non-Hispanic respondents.
- An overwhelming majority of Americans incorrectly answered at least one of eight knowledge questions about the flu shot.
- Among the Gen Z population, 83% missed at least two of eight knowledge questions about the flu shot.
Embargoed until 7 a.m. ET/6 a.m. CT on Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021
DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2021 Three in five Americans say they may delay or skip the flu shot this year, despite warnings from health experts the influenza season could start early and be severe, according to a new survey released by the American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all.
However, according to the same online survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by Wakefield Research for the American Heart Association, almost all of those who got the flu shot for the 2020-21 flu season said they plan to get vaccinated again this year.
While 82% surveyed said they are thinking more about their health due to COVID-19, only 26% said COVID-19 is making them more likely to get the jab this year. Hispanic respondents were more likely to say COVID-19 had an impact on their flu shot decision compared to non-Hispanic respondents .
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Analysis Finds 32 States Fail To Vaccinate At Least 40 Percent Of Adults 18
An analysis by the Trust for Americas Health found that only 35.7 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 years old got the flu shot last season . By comparison, 56.6 percent of children and 66.2 percent of seniors were vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all American 6 months and older get vaccinated each year.
According to the CDC, the flu season in the United States is beginning to ramp up and flu is now widespread in 35 states. Rates are particularly high in 13 Southern and Central/Western states .
H1N1 is the most prevalent flu strain this season, which can disproportionately and adversely impact otherwise healthy children and young adults, according to the CDC.
The trend of low vaccination rates among younger adults is particularly troubling this year, when they are more at risk than usual for the effects of the H1N1 strain of flu thats circulating, said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH.
Todays analysis finds that overall flu vaccination rates remain low in the United States. Fewer than half of Americans got a flu shot during the 2012-13 season, which was an increase over 41.8 percent in the previous season.
There were only three states that had decreases in their vaccination rates from the 2011-12 to the 2012-13 season: Florida, Kansas and Wisconsin.
Some key actions TFAH recommends could be taken to improve flu vaccination rates and policies include:
Rankings are based on data from CDCs FluVaxView data set.
Increase The Proportion Of People Who Get The Flu Vaccine Every Year Iid09
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Baseline:49.2 percent of persons aged 6 months and over were vaccinated against seasonal influenza for the flu season 2017-18
Increase the proportion of persons who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza
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% Expect This Years Flu Season To Be Worse Than Last Year
The 2020-2021 flu season was better than usual, according to the CDC, which could be due to COVID-19 preventive measures and the record number of flu vaccines that were distributed in the U.S. We asked survey takers what they are expecting from the 2021-2022 flu season:
- 18% think it will be worse than last year
- 37% think it will be the same as usual
- 11% think it will be better than last year
- 34% do not know what to expect
Two new studies have predicted that the 2021-2022 flu season will be worse than last year however, public health officials explain that a bad flu season could be avoided if flu vaccination rates increase by 20% to 50% than a typical year.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases estimates that 31% of adults aged 50 to 64 years old and 47% of adults aged 65 years or older live with at least one chronic health condition. It advises healthcare providers to insist upon annual flu vaccination particularly in these populations to minimize flu-related complications, hospitalizations, and deaths.
% Are Interested In An Influenza/coronavirus Combination Shot
Influenza/coronavirus combination shots are now in research and development. Moderna and have announced plans for developing these combo vaccines. We asked this years survey respondents whether theyd be interested in getting a combination shot if one becomes available.
- 48% are interested in an influenza/coronavirus combination shot
- 52% are not interested in an influenza/coronavirus combination shot
Additionally, 5% of respondents who are not planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine this year reported that they would be interested in taking an influenza/coronavirus combination shot if one becomes available.
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Articles On Flu Risks & Prevention
How many people get the flu each year? How much does it cost us? How well does the vaccine work?
Here’s a rundown of some important statistics based on the best available data.
5% to 20% — Percentage of the U.S. population that will get the flu, on average, each year.
200,000 — Average number of Americans hospitalized each year because of problems with the illness.
8,200 to 20,000 — Number of people who die each year from flu-related causes in the U.S.
$10 billion+ — Average costs of hospitalizations and outpatient doctor visits related to the flu.
1 to 4 days — Typical time it takes for symptoms to show up once you’ve caught the virus. Adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms begin through 5 to 10 days after the illness starts.
Peak flu season in the U.S.
162 million to 169 million — Number of flu vaccine doses expected to be available in the U.S. for the 2019-2020 flu season.
6 months — The youngest age for which the CDC recommends a flu shot.
Swine flu — A new type that spread worldwide during 2009-2010, causing the first flu pandemic — global outbreak of disease — caused by a new flu virus in more than 40 years. It’s estimated that the pandemic caused more than 12,000 flu-related deaths in the U.S. In contrast to seasonal flu, nearly 90% of the deaths were of people younger than 65.
3 viruses — You get protection from two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus with the 2019-206 “trivalent” flu vaccine:
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Who Should Get The Flu Shot
The flu season in Canada normally runs from November to April. Anyone can get the flu, which can sometimes lead to severe complications or death. Some people are at higher risk for complications due to the flu, including:
- young children
- people with certain chronic medical conditions
- pregnant women
The influenza vaccine, also known as the flu shot, is the best way to prevent the disease. Every Canadian aged 6 months or older should get the flu shot every year.
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% Got A Flu Vaccine Last Year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that influenza vaccination coverage among U.S. adults was 50% in 2020-2021a 2% increase compared to the previous flu season. This years flu shot survey showed a decrease in 2020-2021 vaccination rates compared to last years survey:
Who in your household got the flu vaccine last year? |
|---|
| 2020-2021 flu season |
| 79% | 75% |
The CDC estimates that the flu vaccine decreases the risk of the flu by 40% to 60%. Serious flu shot-related complications are rare, only one to two in 1 million doses result in an allergic reaction to a vaccine, and vaccination-related deaths are about 1 in a million.
There are a variety of other benefits to getting the vaccine, including making the flu a less severe illness if you get the flu after the shot versus getting the flu without a shot. Also, vaccinated people are less likely to suffer a complication or end up in the hospital if they do get the flu, says Corey Fish, MD, a pediatrician and chief medical officer at Brave Care in Portland, Oregon.
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Figure 1 Less Than Half Of Us Adults Received Flu Vaccinations In The 20092010 Flu Season
A survey conducted by RAND in March 2010 provided a snapshot of seasonal flu vaccine uptake among U.S. adults. The survey included a nationally representative sample of more than 4,000 adults. Results showed that only 39 percent of U.S. adults received seasonal flu vaccinations during the 20092010 flu season .
Among adults specifically recommended for vaccination, rates were only slightly higher: 45 percent overall. Forty-five percent of adults ages 1849 with high-risk chronic conditions were vaccinated a similar percentage of adults ages 5064 were vaccinated. Among health care workers at greatest risk of contact with other high-risk individuals, 47 percent received vaccination. The only high-risk group to be vaccinated at rates above 50 percent was adults age 65 or older, of whom 65 percent were vaccinated.
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National Flu Vaccination Rate Holds Steady At 52% Despite Percentages Rising In 27 States
With so much focus on the coronavirus pandemic, its understandable that flu shots arent top of mind. The flu virtually disappeared in the U.S. in the 2020-21 season as mask-wearing, social distancing and virtual schooling were the norms.
In that 2020-21 flu season the latest in which full data is available 52.1% of eligible Americans received a flu vaccine, a nearly identical rate as the previous season. The flu didnt stay hidden for long, though. Flu cases started making a swift return in the ongoing 2021-22 season, topping pre-pandemic levels in December.
Reasons To Refuse The Vaccine
- The most common reason across all adults for not getting their flu shot was they were healthy and/or never had the flu .
- Among adults aged 1864 years with chronic medical conditions, not getting around to the vaccine was the most commonly provided response for not getting the flu shot .
- Among seniors, concerns about vaccine safety was the most common reason for not receiving the flu shot .
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Reasons For Accepting The Flu Vaccine
When I first started work as a nurse, I never got a flu shot. If I got the flu, I went to work even though I was sick. One year I got the flu shot on a Friday morning and was sick as a dog by the evening. Now I know that I already had the flu when I got the shotback then I blamed it on the vaccine and didnt get a shot for several more years. One year I got the flu, missed several days of work, and coughed my lungs out for almost two weeks. After that I thought, this is ridiculous, the flu vaccine will stop all of this. It was a no-brainer. Now I get a shot every year.
ER Nurse, California, 2020
There are many good reasons for healthcare workers to get a flu vaccine, not least of which is they are less likely to become ill themselves and much less likely to pass the virus on to their patients and families. Among healthcare personnel who received the flu vaccine in 2016, protecting themselves from flu was the most common reason reported for receiving the flu vaccination. Employer requirement for flu vaccination was the second most commonly reported reason why vaccinated healthcare providers decided to get the flu vaccination .
Main Reason Reported for Getting the Flu Vaccine Among Healthcare Personnel Internet Panel Survey, November 2016, USA