According to a report by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the flu season of 2022-23 ranked among the most fatal in half a decade. Over 250 adults and five children lost their lives, bringing the total number of fatalities to 262 in Washington state alone. The flu outbreak started to intensify from late October until it reached its peak at the end of November before subsiding significantly by April’s end, thanks largely to respiratory illness preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the reduced number of flu cases, the DOH strongly recommends getting the flu vaccine every year. According to Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health, “it’s especially important now that most of us are around other people again to get a flu vaccine every year.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between October 1, 2022, and April 29, 2023, there were as many as 640,000 flu hospitalizations and 57,000 flu deaths nationwide.
Vaccination rates for certain groups have decreased nationally, according to the DOH. In comparison to pre-pandemic vaccination rates, vaccination rates for children dropped by over 6%, and vaccination rates for pregnant women dropped by 15%. In order to protect yourself from this severe disease, it is essential to get vaccinated against it.
Vaccinating yourself against this serious disease is the best way to prevent it, said Dr. Shah. If you have been vaccinated against the flu, your illness is usually milder, and you are less likely to need to visit the hospital.” In order to prevent infection, the DOH encourages people to regularly wash their hands, stay at home when they are ill, and wear masks in public places. It is especially important for those who are most severely affected by the flu, such as those over 65, those with immunodeficiencies, children under five, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses, to take these precautions in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
In conclusion, the 2022-23 flu season in Washington state was one of the deadliest in recent years, and the DOH strongly encourages people to get vaccinated against the flu. Despite the lower number of flu cases due to COVID-19 precautions, it is important to continue practicing healthy habits to prevent the spread of the flu. By doing so, we can protect ourselves and the most vulnerable members of our communities.