Flu Activity Rises in Michigan Amidst Decline in Vaccinations
As flu activity reaches significant levels across Michigan, only a small fraction of residents have opted for the flu vaccination since September. According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than 25% of the population has been vaccinated, marking a noticeable decrease compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, pointed to misinformation as a key factor behind the drop in vaccination rates. Despite the flu shot not being a foolproof shield against the flu, Bagdasarian emphasizes that “the goal here, it’s not to prevent all cases. It is to keep you out of the hospital, and prevent you from dying, ending up on a ventilator. We know that there are some high risk groups, and we really want to keep those groups safe.”
This year’s flu vaccine is thought to lower the chances of severe flu-related complications, hospital visits, and fatalities by roughly 33%. The effectiveness of the vaccine varies annually, depending on how accurately it targets the strains of the flu virus prevalent during the season.
—
Read More Michigan News
