Flu Vaccine Effectiveness: Interim Estimate in the United States for 2019-2020 Season
March 14th, 2020
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness: Interim Estimate in the United States for 2019-2020 Season
By Steve Nye
Flu is a common respiratory illness caused by influenza virus that must be taken seriously. According to the CDC “during the previous decade, influenza caused an estimated 4.3-21 million doctor visits, 140,000-810,000 hospitalizations and 12,000-61,000 deaths each year in the United States.”
Data from the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network shows “on 4,112 children and adults with acute respiratory illness during October 23-2019 – January 25, 2020, the overall estimated effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine for preventing medically attended laboratory-confirmed influenza virus was 45%.” Note that vaccine effectiveness was higher among children and adolescents (55%) and lower among adults aged 18-49 years old (25%), while people 50 years and older were close to the average effectiveness (43%).
Although the influenza season has had its earliest start in the last decade, the vaccine effectiveness data confirms that “vaccine has significantly reduced medical visits associated with influenza so far this season.” The CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccine while there is influenza activity because “the vaccine can still prevent illness, hospitalization and death.”
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbility and Mortality Weekly Report, February 21, 2020