Recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week
December 4-8 is National Influenza Vaccination Week. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes the importance of flu vaccinations. CMS OMH is also highlighting vaccination disparities and encouraging everyone to get their flu shot, which has been proven to reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization, and death.
During the 2021-2022 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that influenza was associated with 9 million illnesses, 4 million medical visits, 10,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths. While everyone who is eligible should receive a flu shot each year, those who are at higher risk of serious complications from the flu (people aged 65 and older, individuals with chronic conditions, pregnant people, and children under age 5), should take extra care to ensure their vaccines are current.
Flu vaccination disparities persist among Black, Hispanic, and American Indian and Alaska Native adults, with less than 43 percent of adults in these communities receiving their flu vaccine during the 2021-2022 season. Additionally, from 2009-2022, flu hospitalization rates were nearly 80 percent higher among Black adults than White adults. In rural communities, flu vaccination rates among individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Medicare Fee-For-Service in 2021 were significantly lower than the national average.
Highlighting the importance of flu vaccines and sharing information with your community is crucial for reducing vaccination disparities. During National Influenza Vaccination Week, we encourage you to take time to review and share the resources below.
Resources
- Visit our Immunization and Vaccine Resources webpage to view a list of flu resources and learn more about flu vaccines for underserved populations, including materials in additional languages.
- Review our Annual Influenza Vaccination Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries data snapshot to learn about who should get the flu vaccine and about flu shot disparities among Medicare fee-for-service enrollees.
- Download and share CMS postcards available in English, Spanish, and 14 additional languages to encourage members of your community to get their flu shots.
- Review our Coverage to Care Prevention Resources to learn about the services available at no cost to adults under most health coverage, including vaccines. Resources are available in 8 different languages.
- Download Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare to learn more about rural-urban differences in health care experiences and clinical care received nationally in 2021, including disparities in flu vaccine uptake.
- Explore CMS’s flu webpage for information, videos, and resources about the flu.
- View the CMS Flu Vaccine Partner Toolkit to stay informed about CMS, CDC, and HHS materials available regarding the importance of the flu vaccine.
- Visit the CDC’s Cold Versus Flu and Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19 webpages for more information of differentiating between the flu, a cold, and COVID-19.
- For information on vaccine eligibility, visit the CDC’s Who Should & Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated webpage.
- Check out the CDC’s 2022-2023 Flu Season FAQ for additional information.
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