CDC: Flu hit young, middle-aged adults harder this year
This year's flu season has hit younger and middle-aged adults harder than in past years, government health officials warned Thursday. In previous flu seasons, young children and seniors aged 65 and older were among those most likely to be hospitalized or die from flu.
But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults between ages 18 and 64 represented about 61 percent of all flu-related hospitalizations this year, with influenza deaths following the same pattern.
"Flu hospitalizations and deaths in people -- younger and middle-aged adults -- is a sad and difficult reminder that flu can be serious for anyone, not just the very young and old; and that everyone should be vaccinated," said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC. "The good news is that this season's vaccine is doing its job, protecting people across all age groups."
This year's flu shot has been found to be 61 percent effective thus far, the CDC reported in a separate study published in the same journal issue. That means people who got the vaccine were 61 percent less likely to have to go to a doctor because of the flu.
That number might sound low to some hoping for full protection, but it's consistent with previous flu seasons: Last year, the CDC reported the flu vaccine was 62 percent effective for what turned out to be an especially severe flu season.
CDC officials reported in December that last year's flu vaccine prevented about 6.6 million illnesses, 3.2 million doctor's visits, and 79,000 hospitalizations, mostly in seniors and young children. The large numbers may have been a reflection of the severity of last year's flu season, given that about 32 million people got sick, including 14.4 million that needed a doctor's visits and 381,000 hospitalizations.
What made the 2013-2014 flu season so severe for young adults and the middle-aged?
H1N1 affects healthy younger people in addition to traditionally higher-risk groups, Dr. Susan Rehm, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), told CBS News in January.
This year saw several high-profile reports of previously healthy young people dying from flu in areas including Texas and the San Francisco Bay Area.
During the 2009 pandemic, 18- to 64-year-olds accounted for about 56 percent of flu hospitalizations.
This year's flu vaccine was designed to protect against 2009 H1N1.
According to November estimates, about 60 percent of seniors received a flu vaccine and 50 percent of young children got a flu shot. But only about one-third of people ages 18 to 64 got vaccinated.
The CDC did point out that some vaccinated people still develop severe cases of flu.
"It's also important to remember that some people who get vaccinated may still get sick, and we need to use our second line of defense against flu: antiviral drugs," said Frieden. He added, "We are committed to the development of better flu vaccines, but existing flu vaccines are the best preventive tool available now."
Fifty children have died from flu this year, compared to 169 in last year's flu season. The CDC only tracks pediatric death rates, and its conclusion that adults 18 to 64 were dying in higher rates this year factored in hospitalization rates and anecdotal reports.
As of Feb. 8, the most recent data collected by the CDC, six states continued to show high flu activity: Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, including pregnant women. Children younger than 9 who have yet to get a flu shot may need two doses to build up immunity -- parents can check with their doctor. Adults who were vaccinated in the early months of the flu season should still be protected.
"I want to remind you the season is not over, and things can change," said Schuchat. "Vaccinated people were substantially better off than people who did not get vaccinated. If you haven't been vaccinated yet, it's not too late to get benefits," she said.
