The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that results from an influenza virus and aims to infect your throat, nose, and sometimes your lungs. It can be a mild or severe illness, and sometimes, it can even result in death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that you get a flu vaccine each year to ward off this illness. This analysis from the Parker Waichman team reveals which states have the most flu vaccine coverage based on percent of population vaccinated.
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<img src="https://www.yourlawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/flu-vaccine-coverage-4.png" title="U.S. States Ranked by Flu Vaccine Coverage - YourLawyer.com - Infographic" alt="U.S. States Ranked by Flu Vaccine Coverage - YourLawyer.com - Infographic"></a><br><a href="https://yourlawyercom.wpengine.com" alt="YourLawyer.com" title="YourLawyer.com">By YourLawyer.com</a>However, when we took a look at CDC statistics on influenza vaccination coverage for people six months and older in the United States, compiled based on 2019-20 influenza season, we found that this advice is not always heeded.
Flu vaccine coverage is highest in the Northeast, with the top three states being Rhode Island (60.9%), Connecticut (60.7%), and Massachusetts (60.6%). In fact, these are the only three states across the country where the percentage is higher than 60. In 28% of states, flu vaccine coverage is under 50%. The bottom five states on the list are Mississippi (45.9%), Alaska (45.8%), Idaho (44.9%), Florida (44.5%) and Nevada (also 44.5%).
According to data from the CDC, here are all 50 states ranked by their percentage of flu vaccine coverage.
- Rhode Island: 60.9%
- Connecticut: 60.7%
- Massachusetts: 60.6%
- Virginia: 58.8%
- South Dakota: 58.7%
- Nebraska: 58.3%
- Wisconsin: 58.3%
- Maryland: 57.8%
- New Hampshire: 57.6%
- Vermont: 57%
- Iowa: 56.6%
- North Dakota: 56.5%
- Washington: 56.3%
- Minnesota: 56.3%
- Pennsylvania: 56.1%
- North Carolina: 55.8%
- Colorado: 55.6%
- Maine: 55.6%
- Delaware: 55%
- Arkansas: 54.9%
- Kansas: 54.5%
- Oklahoma: 54%
- New Jersey: 54%
- New Mexico: 53.2%
- New York: 52.9%
- Illinois: 52.2%
- West Virginia: 52.2%
- Utah: 51.9%
- Oregon: 51.4%
- California: 51.3%
- Hawaii: 51%
- Ohio: 51%
- Kentucky: 50.9%
- Indiana: 50.8%
- South Carolina: 50.7%
- Missouri: 50.2%
- Michigan: 49.7%
- Montana: 49.6%
- Tennessee: 49.1%
- Alabama: 48.4%
- Louisiana: 47.5%
- Wyoming: 47.3%
- Texas: 47.3%
- Arizona: 46.5%
- Georgia: 45.9%
- Mississippi: 45.9%
- Alaska: 45.8%
- Idaho: 44.9%
- Florida: 44.5%
- Nevada 44.5%
What Are Symptoms of the Flu?
The flu can often come on quite suddenly. People who have come down with the flu often experience the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Body or muscle aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting or diarrhea (these symptoms are much more common in children than in adults)
What to Know About the Flu
- According to a CDC study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, an average of 8% of the population in the United States comes down with the flu each season; the figure can range from 3% to 11% depending on the season.
- Flu season is between October and May. The peak occurs in the winter.
- The flu is contagious before you even start seeing symptoms. Within the first three to four days of becoming ill is when you’re the most contagious, and you can remain contagious for five to seven days after you first become sick.
- If you receive the flu vaccine, it can take up to two weeks for it to work. This is why it’s important to get your flu vaccine early in the season. The flu shot works to help your body develop the antibodies that it needs to protect itself against the flu, and it needs time to do that.
- It’s still possible to come down with the flu even after vaccination. On average, the flu vaccine reduces the risk of the illness by between 40% and 60%; it’s not a 100% guarantee that you won’t come down with the illness.
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