Flu
Flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates among all health care workers for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season was 76.3% and 40.2%, respectively, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released April 2.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report March 12 on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine for the 2025-2026 flu season, finding that it reduced the risk of medical visits 22%-34% and hospitalizations by 30% for all adults.
A Washington resident recently hospitalized with the H5N5 strain of bird flu died Nov. 21, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
Flu cases are growing or likely growing in 39 states, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from Nov. 11.
The Washington State Department of Health announced Nov. 14 that a state resident hospitalized earlier this month is the first human to have the H5N5 strain of bird flu. The virus was previously reported to have been found in animals only.
A study published Oct. 30 by the American Heart Association found that people have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke following flu and COVID-19 infection.
The flu vaccine is updated for the 2025-2026 season and is now available at many workplaces, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other locations.
AHA’s latest social media toolkit for spreading awareness of the flu focuses on the availability of the flu vaccine for at-risk, vulnerable populations as flu season approaches this fall.
The flu hospitalization rate during the 2024-25 flu season was the highest since 2010-11, according to a report published Sept. 12 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting a similar combined number of peak hospitalizations from COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus this upcoming respiratory virus season compared to last year’s, according to its 2025-26 outlook released Aug. 25.