Lauren Dempsey, MS in Biomedicine and Law, RN, FISM News
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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported flu activity has been historically low due to COVID-19 prevention strategies leading to a lack of exposure to the influenza virus, as well as a likely lack of flu testing as medical professionals focused on fighting COVID.
However, experts warn that after a tough flu season in Australia, the flu may be making a comeback in the U.S. this fall.
The CDC monitors the seasonal patterns of the influenza virus and its various strains. Flu season starts in October, peaking throughout the winter months, and usually lasts into May. Data indicates that positive cases are on the rise, and have been over the last few weeks.
According to the information that was published by the CDC on Friday, “early increases in seasonal influenza activity have been reported in most of the United States, with the southeast and south-central areas of the country reporting the highest levels of activity.”
Experts have been warning that this year’s flu season could be worse than we’ve experienced in recent years and the current data may reflect that. Positive cases increased from 1,274, or 2.2%, to 1,766, or 3.3%, of specimens that were collected with almost 96% being Influenza type A.
The report also shows that there were 1,322 patients admitted to hospitals with the flu in early October and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Statistics reported that “8.7% of the deaths that occurred during the week ending October 8, 2022 (week 40), were due to pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19.”
Preliminary data from the 2021-2022 flu season estimates that there were as many as 13 million cases of the flu with between 5,000 and 14,000 flu deaths. The report also estimates that there were between 3.7 million and 6.1 million medical visits for the flu and as many as 170,000 hospitalizations.
According to the CDC, the best prevention method for the flu is vaccination, which they recommend being done in October for everyone aged 6 months and older. However, vaccine effectiveness varies each year, with a wide margin of efficacy, ranging from 19% to as high as 60% effective at preventing the flu. This is because each year’s vaccine is formulated based on scientists’ best guess at what strain will be the dominant strain that is circulating. During the 2021-2022 season, the vaccine was about 35% effective.
Last month, the Biden Administration announced plans to help Americans get both the flu and COVID-19 shots “at the same time and in the same place” in an effort “to ensure that the nation continues to effectively manage COVID-19 and minimize its disruptions, and to stay prepared for whatever may come.”
The Administration is working with providers to expand access to both vaccines so the public “can easily and efficiently get the protection that they need for the fall and winter” and protect against serious illness.
To do this, the Biden Administration is recommending that employers offer “paid-time-off for vaccination; working with local vaccine providers to host on-site vaccination clinics for employees, including by offering both the annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccines; incorporating clear information about COVID-19 treatments into employee health plans and employee communications.”
The flu vaccine does not come without risk of side effects, either. According to drugs.com, common side effects include headache, changes in appetite, fever, flu-like illness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and many more. Though rare, more serious side effects are also possible.
In addition to vaccination, the CDC also recommends avoiding others when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, practicing good hand hygiene, and avoiding touching your face to avoid getting sick with the flu.