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 it. The vaccine can prevent people from coming down with the virus and help lessen the severity of the symptoms. 

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

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

• Women compared with men.
• Adults ages 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. Hispanic adults had the lowest prevalence.
• College graduates compared with adults with lower levels of education. Adults with less than a high school education had the lowest prevalence.
• Adults with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more compared with those with lower household incomes; the prevalence increases with each increase in income level.
• Adults who live in metropolitan areas compared with those who live in non-metropolitan areas.

For all vaccines, achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage is critical to sustaining progress in reducing the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get the flu vaccine every season. There are exceptions for infants under 6 months of age and anyone who has severe allergies to any of the components of the vaccine. The Community Guide has several evidence-based community interventions to increase vaccination rates.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans to cover preventive services, including immunizations, without charging deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has resources to help people determine if a flu shot is covered under their insurance and to find free- or low-cost vaccination programs near them.

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/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/strat.html.

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.