CDC urges flu vaccination in patients with chronic disease such as CVD
The CDC is urging all individuals with a chronic health condition such as heart disease to receive an influenza vaccination in preparation for the 2021-2022 flu season.
According to a press release from the CDC, approximately 35 million people contracted the flu during the 2019-2020 flu season, including 380,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths.
Among flu hospitalizations reported to the CDC, approximately nine out of 10 patients had at least one chronic health condition and half had heart disease.
According to the release, flu activity during the 2020-2021 flu season was low, conferring lower community level immunity and increased risk for individuals with heart disease and other chronic disease.
According to the CDC, conditions that put people at higher risk for flu complications include:
- neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions;
- blood disorders
- chronic lung disease;
- endocrine disorders;
- heart disease;
- liver disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- obesity with a BMI over 40 kg/m²;
- weakened immune system due to disease or medications;
- prior stroke; and
- certain disabilities related to impaired muscle function, lung function, or difficulty coughing, swallowing or clearing fluids from airways.
“CDC estimates that only about half of adults 18 to 64 years of age with at least one chronic health condition received a flu vaccine last season,” Michael Jhung, MD, MPH, a medical officer with CDC’s Influenza Division, said in the release. “This means many people who are most vulnerable to getting very sick with flu are not getting the protection they need. Even more concerning is that heart disease and diabetes were the most common chronic conditions among hospitalized adults with flu during recent seasons —about half of adults hospitalized with flu had heart disease, and about 30% had diabetes. If you or a loved one has a chronic condition like asthma, heart disease, diabetes or had a stroke, please get your flu vaccine.”
Reference:
- A Chronic Health Condition Can Increase Your Risk. www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/chronic-conditions/index.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fflu%2Fhighrisk%2Fchronic-conditions.htm. Page last reviewed on Sep. 20, 2021. Accessed on Oct. 28, 2021.
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