The U.S. flu season is underway with cases rising sharply across the nation, but vaccination rates remain concerningly low.
At a glance:
- Thirteen states, including Tennessee and Louisiana, are experiencing high or very high levels of flu-like illness.
- Emergency room visits and flu test requests are surging in early hot spots.
- Pediatric vaccination rates against the flu are lower than last year, with 80% of flu-related child deaths linked to unvaccinated cases.
- Public health experts warn against policies that discourage flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, despite legitimate concerns.
Flu cases are surging across much of the United States, with health officials declaring the flu season officially underway. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu indicators, including lab tests and emergency room visits, have risen sharply in recent weeks.
“It’s been increasing at a pretty steady pace now for the past several weeks. So yeah, we are certainly in flu season now,” said Alicia Budd, a CDC flu expert.
Thirteen states have reported high levels of flu-like illness, including Tennessee, where Nashville is experiencing an explosion of cases. “Flu has been increasing, but just this last week has exploded,” said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University.
Louisiana is also grappling with a rapid spike. “You hear parents saying, ‘I can’t come to work because of the flu’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?’” said Dr. Catherine O’Neal of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
Other illnesses complicate the picture
Flu-like symptoms overlap with other respiratory illnesses such as RSV and COVID-19. RSV hospitalizations remain slightly higher than those for flu, particularly in the South, though they show signs of leveling off nationally. COVID-19 activity is currently moderate, with high levels in the Midwest, the CDC reports.
The pandemic’s lingering impact is evident in lower vaccination rates, which experts say exacerbate the flu season’s severity.
Lagging vaccination rates raise alarms
The CDC highlights a concerning trend: flu vaccination rates among children have dropped from 44% last year to 41%. Among children old enough for the vaccine who died during last year’s flu season, 80% were unvaccinated.
Vaccination rates among adults are similarly stagnant, with only 41% having received a flu shot by early December. COVID-19 vaccination rates are even lower, with just 21% of adults and 11% of children up to date. Are they surprised? Everyone knows the truth about these things.
“All those gatherings that are so heartwarming and fun and joyous are also an opportunity for this virus to spread person to person,” Schaffner warned. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated.”
Mhm. Sure…
Controversial policies and public health warnings
Despite the push for vaccinations, Louisiana’s Health Department has scaled back its flu and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Instead, officials advise individuals to consult their doctors about whether the vaccines are right for them.
Critics argue such policies undermine public health efforts. “People are going to die because of this policy,” said Jennifer Herricks, Founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines.
Vaccination advocates stress the importance of staying protected, particularly as the holidays approach. “Vaccines save lives, and policies that dissuade people from getting protected are irresponsibly dangerous,” public health experts warn.
The CDC urges Americans to act quickly to get vaccinated as the flu season accelerates and the risk of severe illness remains high.
But after what happened in 2020…will people listen? It’s hard to find a reason to trust them anymore.
