Influenza

Get a quick topline look at specific revisions and additions included in the ACIP's recommendations for routine immunization of those aged ≤18 years in the US.

Vaccine uptake this respiratory virus season is lagging compared to previous years, says Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Distinguishing between influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and persuading vaccine-weary patients to get vaccinated are some of the challenges this season, says William Schaffner, MD.

Among the CDC vaccine advisory group's recommendations are adding COVID-19 vaccines to the Vaccine for Children program and allowing PCV20 shots for those who previously received PCV13.

The FDA amended Pfizer and Moderna EUAs for updated COVID-19 vaccines to include children as young as age 6 months as holidays and winter weather approach.

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The inpatient flu census doubled after Thanksgiving travel and gatherings and ICU beds are full. More at-a-glance stats on Flu in the USA, here.

Flu rates are up after the Thanksgiving holiday week, COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing, and RSV may or may not be on the wane as Christmas approaches.

Respiratory syncytial virus is an age-old winter foe that could affect many of your patients this year. Take a minute and scan these facts for a refresher.

Overall flu activity is at a 10-year high, according to the CDC's most recent influenza surveillance report, while US hospitals are already overwhelmed.

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Early oseltamivir use reduced the length of hospitalization and risk for hospital readmission in children hospitalized with influenza, according to new research.

Your daily dose of clinical news you may have missed.

The high-dose influenza vaccines provided greater relative vaccine effectiveness/efficacy vs standard dose in a cohort of more than 45 million.

AAFP Board Chair Ransone points to recent data that show two-thirds of long COVID patients are already treated in primary care settings.

It is clear that COVID-19 comes in waves, but it's too soon in the life of the virus to predict patterns, Ransone says. Strategy? Get shots in arms.

AAFP Board Chair Sterling Ransone, Jr, MD, encourages patients to get both shots at one visit; if they don't, he has strategies to bring them back for the one they didn't get.

AAFP Board Chair Sterling Ransone, Jr, MD, offers an Academy refresher on the annual push-back from patients that is so familiar to family medicine clinicians.

About half of American adults plan not to get a flu shot this year; everyone is tired of COVID talk and prevention; but flu is brewing in the southern hemisphere, Ransone says.

Ransone hasn't had a case of influenza in his practice in 2 years, but with mitigation measures all but over and COVID-19 in the wings, this year could be different.

Influenza rates were higher in Australia during the April-October season this year than they have been in 5 years. Should we be preparing now?

This influenza antiviral brush-up slide show reminds you of key features of the 4 FDA-recommended medications, at-a-glance.

Pfizer announced that the first participants have been dosed in a novel phase 3 efficacy clinical trial of its quadrivalent modified RNA influenza vaccine candidate.

Preventing viral infections with vaccination can keep the most vulnerable out of the hospital, reducing the risk of bacterial superinfections.

Widespread antibiotic prescribing in the first year of the pandemic set back US progress on the fight against antimicrobial resistance, says Anne Meneghetti, MD.

Influenza season in the southern hemisphere is "substantial," says Dr William Schaffner. To prepare: "Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!"

The patients on the vaccine fence are the ones that take the extra time and, over time, an added measure of patience for the clinician.

Vaccine fatigue in the US, says Vanderbilt University's William Schaffner, MD, is plentiful for vaccines that are are good—but not perfect.

Let's call the next round of COVID-19 shots "updated vaccines," and help the public understand the true role of this vaccination, says NFID's Schaffner.