I Raise the Rates! November Edition

In this edition of I Raise the Rates (IRtR), you will find a variety of new resources from several public health partners, educational opportunities, and a brief selection of popular media articles related to immunization.

Practical Immunization Microlearning Resources from the American College of Physicians

Access the following new mobile-friendly microlearning resource for guidance on respiratory virus season

For more adult immunization resources, visit acponline.org/ai

National Influenza Vaccination Week

December 4-8, 2023

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a critical opportunity to remind everyone 6 months and older that there’s still time to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this flu season by getting their annual flu vaccine if they have not already. CDC data shows that flu vaccination coverage was lower last season, especially among certain higher risk groups, such as pregnant people and children. When you get a flu vaccine, you reduce your risk of illness, and flu-related hospitalization if you do get sick. This week is meant to remind people that there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine today.

Check out CDC’s NIVW toolkit for more shareable resources and content.

Holiday Season Flu Vaccination: 5 things you should know

Flu vaccines benefit you, your family, and your community
Flu vaccines benefit pregnant people and babies
Flu vaccines benefit young children
Flu vaccines are safe and effective
There's still time to get vaccinated

Tag @CDCFlu and use the hashtag #FightFlu on Twitter to join the conversation all week long!

US to Offer More Free COVID Tests Nationwide

“The U.S. government on Monday will start taking orders for another round of free COVID-19 tests for delivery across the country, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson said.” Those “households that had ordered four free tests through COVIDTests.gov when they were offered again in September are eligible to order four more, while those that did not can submit two orders for a total of eight free tests.”

The Flu is Soaring in Seven US States and Rising in Others, Health Officials Say

As was the case last year, winter Flu season is off to an early start in 2023. Whereas “traditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January," the United States has seen cases rising in many parts of the country during the month of November.

"High levels of illnesses" have been reported in at least seven states. Meanwhile, “flu activity was moderate but rising in New York City, Arkansas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.”

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. It was also high in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory where health officials declared an influenza epidemic earlier this month.”

Fortunately, “the version that’s been spreading the most so far this year usually leads to a lesser amount of hospitalizations and deaths in the elderly.”

Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update

This interactive map from the CDC allows users to view Influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity levels across the United States over time. Users can explore a number of features, including the ability to click on any state and be redirected to state-level surveillance tools and other resources.

Interactive Map

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report (CDC FluView)

Key Points

Seasonal influenza activity continues to increase in most parts of the country, most notably in the South Central, Southeast, Mountain, and West Coast regions.
"Outpatient respiratory illness is above baseline nationally for the third week and is at or above baseline in seven of 10 HHS Regions."
"CDC estimates that there have been at least 1.2 million illnesses, 12,000 hospitalizations, and 740 deaths from flu so far this season." (updated November 27, 2023)
"CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine."

Additional Articles

Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated

Findings from a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show an 18% increase in measles cases and a 43% increase in deaths globally in 2022 (compared to 2021). These numbers follow years of declining measles vaccination coverage. The estimated death toll from measles in 2022 stands at "136,000 - mostly among children," with a total case number of 9 million. “In 2022, 37 countries experienced large or disruptive outbreaks compared with 22 countries in 2021.”

A subsequent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was published by the CDC, entitled Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2022. A link to that story can be found below.