Weekly MDPH Influenza News - 10/15/2021
Influenza Activity in the U.S.
Key Points:
• An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications.
• Influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as COVID-19 vaccine.
• CDC recommends everyone 6 months or older get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
• There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness.
National Influenza Activity:
According to this week’s FluView report, seasonal influenza activity in the United States remains low.
Below is a summary of the key influenza indicators for the week ending October 9, 2021:
Viral Surveillance - Clinical Lab: The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza at clinical laboratories is 0.1% this week.
Viral Surveillance - Public Health Lab: At this time, few specimens have tested positive.
Virus Characterization: Influenza virus characterization information will be reported later this season.
Outpatient Illness: The percentage of patient visits to a health care provider for Influenza-like illness (ILI) in week 40 was 1.9% which is below baseline.
Outpatient Illness: ILINet Activity Map During week 40, 1 jurisdiction experienced high or very high activity and 1 jurisdiction experience moderate activity.
Influenza-associated Hospitalizations: FluSurv-NET sites will update their hospitalization rates starting later this season.
NCHS Mortality: 18.0% of deaths were attributed to pneumonia, influenza, or COVID 19 (PIC ). This percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 5.7% for this week. Currently, the majority of PIC deaths are due to COVID-19. (NCHS:National Center for Health Statistics)
Influenza-associated Pediatric Deaths: No influenza-associated pediatric deaths during the 2021-2022 season have been reported to CDC.
Click for full
CDC FluView
Influenza Activity in Massachusetts
Figure 1 shows that for MMWR week 40, the percent of ILI visits visits is higher than the three previous seasons in the same week. For more information, see CDC’s influenza surveillance website at
www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm.
ILI Activity in Massachusetts by Region
Figure 4 shows the relative intensity of reported ILI activity in Massachusetts by region. Although regions may not all experience the same intensity of ILI at similar times, infections due to influenza can be found throughout Massachusetts during flu season. Figure 4 shows that all regions of Massachusetts are reporting minimal ILI activity.

For more information about flu, go to our
Weekly Flu Report
Questions and Resources
MDPH Influenza Vaccine Guidelines and Tools. This webpage contains information about influenza vaccine and links to guidance about planning flu and other mass immunization campaigns, standing orders, screening forms, consent forms, and MDPH-specific vaccine management guidance.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/prepare-practice-tools.htm
This website helps professionals work with their patients and emphasizes the importance of your role in protecting the public against influenza each season. Your recommendation to your patients that they receive the influenza vaccine is critical and more effective in increasing acceptance of vaccination than any other influencing factor.
CDC Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation
CDC Digital Media Toolkit: 2021-22 Flu Season
Vaccine Ordering and Locating Clinics
Find your flu vaccine
A free online service where users can search for locations that offer immunizations.
Providers Wishing to Order Flu Vaccine for Private Purchase:
The national
Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System (IVATS) assists providers wishing to privately purchase flu vaccine. IVATS identifies available doses of influenza vaccine by formulation and distributor/vendor throughout the season.
For questions about influenza please call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Immunization Program at 617-983-6800 or your local board of health.
For questions about state-supplied influenza vaccine, please call the Vaccine Unit at 617-983-6828.
Joyce Cohen, MPH
Epidemiologist
Influenza Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Phone: 617 983-6839
Fax: 617 983-6840