CDC report highlights flu inequities

Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) U.S. adults are more likely to be hospitalized with flu, as well as less likely to be vaccinated against it, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. Compared with white adults, from 2009-2022, hospitalization rates were 80% higher among Black adults, 30% higher among AI/AN adults and 20% higher among Hispanic adults, excluding the 2020-2021 season due to a lack of data. During the 2021-2022 season, 54% of white and Asian adults, 42% of Black adults, 38% of Hispanic adults and 41% of AI/AN adults received a flu vaccine. “Health care providers, state and federal officials and individuals can work together to fight flu by taking steps to increase vaccine uptake in everyone, including people from racial and ethnic minority groups,” CDC said. (CDC news release, 10/18/22)