Announcement: National Influenza Vaccination Week — December 4–10, 2016

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, state and local health departments, and other partners will observe National Influenza Vaccination Week during December 4–10, 2016, with educational and promotional activities across the country. Beginning in 2005, National Influenza Vaccination Week was established to highlight the importance of annual influenza vaccination and to foster greater use of influenza vaccine during the months of December, January, and beyond. Last season, almost half (45.6%) of the U.S. population aged ≥6 months are estimated to have received vaccination against influenza. This is a small decline of 1.5% since the previous season (47.1%), but close to what was seen during the 2013–2014 (46.2%).

As of November 10, 2016, approximately 129.2 million doses of 2016–17 seasonal influenza vaccine have been distributed to vaccination providers in the United States (1). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months, with rare exceptions. Because of its low effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the United States during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons, ACIP made the interim recommendation that quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine should not be used for the 2016–17 season (2).

Influenza vaccination is especially important for persons in certain groups who are at increased risk for influenza-related complications. Those persons at high risk include children aged <5 years, and especially children aged <2 years; persons with certain chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes; pregnant women; and adults aged ≥65 years. Health care personnel are also at risk for acquiring and transmitting influenza to their patients (3). Information about events, web tools, and CDC’s planned activities for National Influenza Vaccination Week are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm, and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources. Additional information and resources for health care professionals are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/index.htm. Influenza vaccination coverage estimates for 2015–16 are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview.

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References

1. CDC. Seasonal influenza vaccine and total doses distributed. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccinesupply.htm
2. Grohskopf LA, Sokolow LZ, Broder KR, et al. Prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—United States, 2016–17 influenza season. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65(No. RR-5). CrossRef
3. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Immunization of health-care personnel: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2011;60(No. RR-7). PubMed

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