Flu Vaccine Provided Substantial Protection This Season

Experts say the flu shot is providing better protection than previous years. The 2022-2023 flu shot reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalization by nearly three quarters among children and by nearly half among adults, according to new data from the CDC. Vaccinated adults were also about half as likely to have flu-related illness and emergency department visits. The data, presented at CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting last week, showed consistent benefit across five vaccine effectiveness studies. Results presented by one surveillance network showed that adults who had received their flu shot were 44% less likely to visit an emergency department or urgent care center and 39% less likely to be hospitalized due to flu illness or complications, compared to 25% vaccine effectiveness at preventing emergency department or urgent care visits and hospitalization during the 2021-2022 season. See more from CNN here.