Flu Vaccination in United States

United States

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses. A flu vaccine is the best protection against seasonal influenza viruses, which can pose a serious threat to health. Each year in the United States, millions of people get the flu, and thousands of people die from the virus. The vaccination can reduce the intensity of symptoms, defend against catching the virus and protect those with chronic illnesses. Hospitalizations for chronic conditions exacerbated by the flu, like diabetes and chronic lung disease, can also be reduced by vaccination. Flu vaccination is also associated with lower rates of some cardiac events in people with cardiac disease, particularly those who have recently experienced cardiac events.

Recent studies have estimated the annual economic burden of flu in the U.S. to be $11.2 billion, including direct medical costs as well as indirect costs such as loss of productivity.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine is higher among:

• Women compared with men.
• Adults age 65 and older compared with younger adults; the prevalence is lowest among adults ages 18-44.
• White and Asian adults compared with other racial/ethnic groups.
• College graduates compared with adults who have lower levels of education. Adults with less than a high school education have the lowest prevalence.
• Adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared with those who have lower incomes; the prevalence increases with each increase in income level.
• Adults living in metropolitan areas compared with those living in nonmetropolitan areas.

Achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage is critical to sustaining progress in reducing the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases. It is recommended that everyone get the flu vaccine every season, with the exception of infants under 6 months of age and people who have severe allergies to components of the vaccine. The Community Guide has several evidence-based community interventions to increase vaccination rates. Research has found that implementing culturally relevant communication campaigns and delivering vaccination in unconventional locations can help increase flu vaccination among racial/ethnic minority groups.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans to cover preventive services, including immunizations, without charging deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. Individuals can use the Vaccines.gov locator tool to easily find and make appointments with pharmacies offering flu shots near them. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers other resources and information on getting free or low-cost vaccinations, including for those who may lack insurance coverage.

Healthy People 2030 has a goal to increase the percentage of people who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza.

Bjork, Adam, and Valerie Morelli. “Immunization Strategies for Healthcare Practices and Providers.” In Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 14th ed. Washington, D.C.: Public Health Foundation, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-3-immunization-strategies.html.

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Putri, Wayan C. W. S., David J. Muscatello, Melissa S. Stockwell, and Anthony T. Newall. “Economic Burden of Seasonal Influenza in the United States.” Vaccine 36, no. 27 (June 22, 2018): 3960–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.05.057.