Trying to Predict the Unpredictable: Preparing for this Flu Season

Published on: September 6, 2023
By Dr. Michael Greenberg, Vice President, Medical Head Vaccines, North America

As the 2023-2024 flu season grows near, Sanofi is preparing for any new challenges we may face this year. Flu seasons can be unpredictable from one year to the next, in part because different strains of flu can emerge each year.1 While there is no way to definitively predict what will happen during the next flu season, we can make informed predictions based on outcomes from previous flu seasons, including relevant global and regional findings, to help protect our communities as best we can.

Following two years of limited flu activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary estimates suggest the 2022-2023 flu season marked a continued increase in flu-related hospitalizations.2,3 These data represent a sharp increase in hospitalizations after two years of limited flu activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.2 The United States also faced a subsequent “triple-demic” last year, with influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating at the same time.4

Outcomes from the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season (April-September) can also help gauge the potential severity of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere (October-May). Based on data from the Southern Hemisphere flu season thus far, the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in the year to date is currently higher than the five-year average between the 2016-2019 and 2022 season. This could be a strong predictor for the upcoming flu season in the Northern Hemisphere.5

These notable trends can help inform our predictions of what the next flu season might be like. Despite the unknowns, there are ways we can prepare for the upcoming flu season, and help protect ourselves, our families and our communities from the flu and its related complications.

Annual flu vaccination is the best way to help protect against flu and its complications, which can include pneumonia and heart attack.6 Flu vaccinations help reduce the burden of flu illness, hospitalization and death, and can reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.6,7 Flu vaccines are a preventive tool for all people, especially those at a higher risk for flu-related complications.7

While anyone can get the flu, certain groups are at an increased risk for potentially life-threatening flu-related complications. Children aged 6 months through 4 years, adults ages 50+, pregnant people and anyone with certain chronic health conditions are all at a higher risk of serious flu illness and related complications.7,8 Flu vaccination is critical and necessary to help protect these more vulnerable populations from the flu.7

Sanofi is the world’s leader in flu vaccines, manufacturing and distributing around 250 million doses every year. While we do not know what will happen during the upcoming flu season, we believe it is our responsibility to help protect against flu infection and reduce the risks of its severe complications. Flu vaccination remains the best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious complications.9

With the possibility of another “triple-demic” this year, your annual flu shot is more important than ever. According to the proposed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization, a flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as other vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine or RSV vaccine.10,11 Click here to learn more about how flu vaccination can help protect against the flu and its complications.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-selection.htm, Accessed July 2023.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022-2023 U.S. Flu Season: Preliminary In-Season Burden Estimates. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm. Accessed June 2023.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Past Seasons Estimated Influenza Disease Burden. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html. Accessed August 2023.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu, RSV, COVID-19 and other Respiratory Threats this Fall and Winter. Available at: https://emergency.cdc.gov/epic/learn/2022/webinar_20221129.asp. Accessed June 2023.
  5. Australian Influenza Surveillance Report. Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/influenza-surveillance-program. Latest Report Published June 2023.
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Symptoms & Complications. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm. Accessed June 2023.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Who Needs a Flu Vaccine. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm. Accessed August 2023.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/whoshouldvax.htm. Accessed August 2023.
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm. Accessed June 2023.
  10. Centers For Disease Control. Getting a COVID Vaccine. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html. Accessed June 2023.
  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Timing and Spacing of Immunobiologics General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/timing.html. Accessed July 2023.
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