The new flu season is rapidly approaching. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all persons aged 6 months or older with no contraindications get the annual flu vaccine.
One fact that many may not be aware of is that the 2024-2025 flu season was among thevworst in decades. The CDC reported that the influenza disease burden was the highest the US has seen in the last decade. It had the highest number of pediatric deaths since 2004 and 89% of those deaths were in unvaccinated children.
Vaccination likely prevented approximately 240,000 influenza related hospitalizations, mainly in adults aged 65 years or older.
I encourage you to make your decision about a flu vaccination this fall based on the best scientific data available. This recommendation goes for any other vaccine you may be considering such as Covid-19, pneumonia vaccination or the shingles vaccine. Lets be safe this winter.
