CDC: Flu vaccination prevented about 71,000 hospitalizations last flu season

Flu vaccination prevented an estimated 5.1 million flu-associated illnesses, 2.5 million flu-associated medical visits and 71,000 flu-associated hospitalizations during the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. Flu vaccination rates last season ranged from about 32% to 70%, depending on the age group. If vaccination rates had been just 5 percentage points higher across the population, another 500,000 flu-associated illnesses, 230,000 flu-associated medical visits and 6,000 flu-associated hospitals could have been prevented, CDC estimates. As of early November, 2016-17 flu vaccination coverage was similar to coverage at the same time last flu season. CDC recommends offering flu vaccination to anyone aged six months or older for as long as flu viruses continue to circulate.