CDC Issues Initial 2011-2012 Seasonal “FluView” Report

CDC Issues Initial 2011-2012 Seasonal “FluView” Report

ArticlePress release
Health & Wellness
Diseases & Conditions
Contributed byKrish Tangella MD, MBAApr 02, 2020

CDC issues initial 2011-2012 seasonal “FluView” report

Current Activity is Low; Outlook for Vaccine is Good

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the initial “FluView” report for the U.S. 2011–2012 flu season with the message that flu activity is currently low, making this the perfect time to get vaccinated. There should be lots of vaccine available, because the supply is projected to set a U.S. record.

“It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body′s immune response to fully kick in,” says Joe Bresee, M.D., Chief of CDC′s Influenza Epidemiology and Prevention Branch. “It′s best to get vaccinated before activity begins so that you′ll be protected once flu season starts in your community.”

CDC routinely monitors influenza activity in the United States year–round with a system that determines when and where influenza activity is occurring, determines what influenza viruses are circulating and detects changes in influenza viruses. The system also measures the burden of influenza disease in the United States, including tracking influenza related illness, hospitalizations and deaths.

The CDC FluView Report is published each Friday from October through mid–May and appears at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm.

“We know from our first report for this season that influenza activity in the United States is low now, with few people going to the doctor for flu–like symptoms and few respiratory viruses testing positive for flu,” says Bresee. “Though we can′t predict the exact timing, we expect increases in influenza illness, hospitalizations and deaths in the next few weeks,” he said.

More than 110 million doses of vaccine had been delivered in the United States as of the end of September, with manufacturers projecting total production of between 166 and 173 million doses. This is the most flu vaccine ever produced for the U.S. market.

“The good news,” Bresee says, “is that the flu viruses this year′s vaccine will protect against are very well matched to those flu viruses that are circulating now, so it′s looking like we will have a vaccine that provides good protection this season to help keep influenza illness and serious complications down.”

With rare exceptions, CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. This season, people have more options than ever in this regard, both in terms of where they get vaccinated and which vaccine they chose to get.

While doctor′s offices and health departments continue to provide flu vaccinations, vaccine also is available at many pharmacies, work places and other retail and clinic locations.

In addition to the traditional seasonal flu shot that has been available for decades, a nasal spray vaccine was introduced in 2003 for non–pregnant healthy people between 2 and 49 years of age, and a high dose flu shot was introduced last season for people 65 and older. Also, new for this season is an intradermal shot, which uses a needle 90 percent smaller than the regular flu shot and is approved for people 18 to 64 years of age.

Each week, CDC receives reports from international, state and local participants and within 48 hours compiles and analyzes that data to produce a report that provides comprehensive situational awareness regarding influenza activity in the United States. “From our perspective, the time to get vaccinated is now,” Bresee concludes.

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Was this article helpful

On the Article

Krish Tangella MD, MBA picture
Approved by

Krish Tangella MD, MBA

Pathology, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

0 Comments

Please log in to post a comment.

Related Articles

Test Your Knowledge

Asked by users

Related Centers

Loading

Related Specialties

Loading card

Related Physicians

Related Procedures

Related Resources

Join DoveHubs

and connect with fellow professionals

Related Directories

Who we are

At DoveMed, our utmost priority is your well-being. We are an online medical resource dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of medical topics. But we're more than just an information hub - we genuinely care about your health journey. That's why we offer a variety of products tailored for both healthcare consumers and professionals, because we believe in empowering everyone involved in the care process.
Our mission is to create a user-friendly healthcare technology portal that helps you make better decisions about your overall health and well-being. We understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming, so we strive to be a reliable and compassionate companion on your path to wellness.
As an impartial and trusted online resource, we connect healthcare seekers, physicians, and hospitals in a marketplace that promotes a higher quality, easy-to-use healthcare experience. You can trust that our content is unbiased and impartial, as it is trusted by physicians, researchers, and university professors around the globe. Importantly, we are not influenced or owned by any pharmaceutical, medical, or media companies. At DoveMed, we are a group of passionate individuals who deeply care about improving health and wellness for people everywhere. Your well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

© 2023 DoveMed. All rights reserved. It is not the intention of DoveMed to provide specific medical advice. DoveMed urges its users to consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. Always call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you have a medical emergency!