Our partners at the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority have produced a short video — Knock Out the Flu — that explains why everyone should get the flu shot every year, and why it’s more important now than ever to help protect you and your loved ones. It’s a helpful resource to share with your patients and community.
In addition, CHA has its own flu shot initiative — FightFluTogether, a consumer-focused campaign developed in partnership with the California Department of Public Health, the California Medical Association, the California Immunization Coalition, and the Hospital Officers Association of California.
The flu exists year-round, beginning as early as October and lasting as late as May, with the season peaking between December and February. Below is a bar chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website depicting a summary of seasonal peak activity by month between 1982 and 2018.
While the flu rate fluctuates between seasons, the CDC tracks the incidence on a weekly basis and provides detailed surveillance reports. Here are a few links: FluView, FluView Interactive.
Everyone 6 months and older should receive the flu vaccine each season, particularly those with chronic conditions and other immune-compromised conditions, pregnant women, and children under 5.
The severity of illness varies from season to season. Although getting the flu vaccination may reduce complications, intensity, and severity of the flu, it will not protect you from the COVID-19 virus. However, it can potentially reduce infections, hospitalization, and mortality rates. With the surge in COVID-19, receiving the flu influenza vaccine is even more critical this season. There is a high probability that the combination of influenza on top of COVID-19 infections may overwhelm our resources and hospitals. One or both situations can lead to negative outcomes. Be safe and get vaccinated!