Content about Influenza vaccine

NEW YORK Only 12% of adults think they had the flu this past winter, fewer than the 15% to 21% who thought they had the flu in other winters since 2004, Harris Interactive reported Friday.

There is no evidence, however, that flu shots should get the credit for the decline in the number of people with the flu, though conversely, Harris Interactive also cautioned in its release there is no evidence that flu shots didn’t contribute on some level.

WASHINGTON Walgreens will be honored later this month for the contributions made to Americans’ preventive health through its massive immunization program during the 2009 to 2010 influenza season.

ATLANTA The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still is recommending people who have not yet gotten their H1N1 flu shots that they do so. H1N1 vaccine is widely available, CDC officials noted.

In a conference call with reporters on Monday, the CDC that H1N1 has “not gone away,” with regional activity still being reported throughout the southeast, most notably in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Hospitalizations attributed to H1N1 have been on the rise for three consecutive weeks.

ATLANTA A panel of immunization experts reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday voted to expand the recommendation for annual influenza vaccination to include all people ages 6 months and older, a marked change from recommendations in the past that identified high-priority groups by age and condition, groups that apply to approximately 85% of the population.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT It’s important for three reasons. First, the government is making a strong push for people to get their flu shots — both seasonal and H1N1. Second, that H1N1 flu shot is widely available at your local retail pharmacy. And third, this will further help establish retail pharmacy as the convenient go-to source for health.