Still Waiting For Flu Season's Arrival

As the United States enters the traditional beginning of the annual flu season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally.

As of October 20, 2023, the CDC reported all 10 HHS regions are below their respective baselines, and the number of flu hospital admissions remains low this flu season.

A recent update from the Walgreens Flu Index shows a few southern states are leading indicators of potential influenza outbreaks in states such as Texas.

From a severity perspective, the National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance reported that 20 influenza-related deaths occurred during the week ending October 14, 2023 (week #41).

Last flu season, the highest weekly count of deaths due to influenza was 1,048, occurring the week ending December 17, 2022.

The good news is that flu shot availability is unconstrained.

As of October 10, 2023, 128.35 million influenza vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S.

For the 2023-2024 flu season, egg-based, cell-based, and nasal influenza vaccines are approved and available at most health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.