On February 7, the CDC reported that flu infections are surging nationwide this season, with over 24 million cases, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths as of February 1. CDC data suggests that flu activity is at its highest level since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Ten pediatric deaths were reported in the last week of January, bringing the total this season to 57. The spike in cases received widespread media coverage and attention on social media. Many posts encouraged vaccination and other preventative measures and discussed the impact of vaccine hesitancy. Anti-vaccine accounts blamed flu vaccines for the rise in infections, with some claiming they are ineffective and others repeating the myth that the flu vaccine causes the flu. Several commenters accused the media of “fearmongering,” arguing that this flu season is no worse than others.
Recommendation
These conversations highlight a general distrust in flu vaccines and persistent false claims about flu vaccine effectiveness and safety. Talking points may explain that the flu is a serious disease that causes hundreds of thousands of people to be hospitalized and kills up to 50,000 people in the U.S. annually. Emphasizing that a flu infection can cause serious complications like pneumonia and heart inflammation and can even increase heart attack risk is recommended. Messaging may highlight that there are three types of FDA-approved flu vaccines in the U.S.: one that has been used since 1945, and two that have been approved for over a decade.
Fact-checking sources: Public Good News, UChicago Medicine
