CDC Webinar - Flu Vaccination Through Late Fall and Winter: It’s Not Too Late!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for all individuals, especially those at high-risk, to receive an annual influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination is a critical strategy to decrease stress on our healthcare system, by decreasing influenza-related doctor visits and hospitalizations, as well as decreasing the number of people who will need influenza diagnostic testing.
Typically, influenza vaccination rates decline drastically by late November. However, this year, there is an additional 9.3 million federally-funded late-season adult influenza vaccine doses available throughout November, December, and January. As long as flu viruses are spreading and causing illness, vaccination should continue throughout flu season in order to protect as many people as possible against flu. CDC guidance is in place for how to safely administer vaccine doses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You may already be recommending flu vaccine to your patients, but in this archived webinar, the benefits of vaccination through the holiday season and beyond, and how to safely administer the vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic were learned.
Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the importance of influenza vaccination
- Discuss benefits of late-season vaccination
- Identify strategies for distribution to vulnerable populations
- Describe CDC’s guidance for flu vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic
Speakers:
- CAPT Amy Parker Fiebelkorn, MSN, MPH – Epidemiologist, Immunization Services Division, CDC/NCIRD
- Kathleen LaPorte, MPH – Health Communication Specialist, Influenza Division, CDC/NCIRD
This one-hour webinar was originally presented on
December 7, 2020. Discussion among the presenters and participants that occurred during the live version of the webinar was captured. To learn more:
Contact:
For more information, please contact Vanessa Lamers at vlamers@phf.org.