National Influenza Vaccination Week

National Influenza Vaccination Week is a call to all Americans 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine if they have not already. Since COVID-19 and flu could spread simultaneously this winter, this week will serve to remind people that there is still time to get a flu vaccine to protect against flu illness and serious flu complications, such as worsening of chronic conditions or pneumonia, for example.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an annual observance in December to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to get vaccinated against flu to be protected during the upcoming season. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are most vulnerable to developing serious flu complications, including people with certain chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. In fact, last flu season 9 out of 10 adults hospitalized for flu had at least one reported underlying medical condition.

This year that message is more important than ever, especially given the possibility that both flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will spread this winter. This could place a tremendous burden on the health care system and result in many more illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths than during a regular flu season — especially among people managing chronic conditions because many of them also are at higher risk from COVID-19. The good news is that there is a flu vaccine that is tried and true; proven to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalizations and death.

There’s so much that’s beyond control this winter season. But we do have the power to get a flu shot to protect ourselves and our families from flu and its complications. Flu vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic should be of added importance because it can help reduce the overall burden of respiratory disease and save medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients.

Together, we can use NIVW as a nationwide call to action to encourage everyone ages 6 months and older to get their annual flu shot, especially those with chronic conditions. The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people protected from flu.

We hope you will join us this year as we encourage everyone — especially those most vulnerable — to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this season.