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Influenza Vaccine Targets
What Would Achieving Influenza Vaccine Targets Actually Mean for Flu Season?

Released: July 22, 2026

Mary Barna Bridgeman
Mary Barna Bridgeman, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
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Seasonal influenza is one of the most common causes of vaccine-preventable deaths in the United States. Influenza infections also lead to significant morbidity, including medical provider visits, hospitalizations, and lost productivity each year.

That’s why current recommendations from the CDC support universal routine annual influenza vaccination for all individuals older than 6 months of age who do not have contraindications, making virtually all healthcare professionals (HCPs) key stakeholders in supporting influenza vaccination uptake. This is especially true for HCPs with consistent patient care touchpoints, including primary care providers, pediatricians, pharmacists, and nurses. 

Millions of people contract influenza each year. Although “the flu” can be mild for some individuals, the course of influenza infection should not be considered benign. It can result in serious complications, including hospitalization and death.

Direct and Indirect Benefits
The direct benefits of receiving an annual influenza vaccine are significant: According to the CDC, during the 2024-2025 flu season, receipt of the influenza vaccine prevented an estimated 10 million flu-related illnesses, 5 million flu-related office visits, 180,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 12,000 flu-related deaths in the United States. These numbers show the staggering impact of vaccination.

The indirect benefits of receiving an annual influenza vaccine are also considerable. Receipt of an annual influenza vaccine has the potential to not only reduce the risk of contracting and developing influenza, but also to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening influenza-related complications. That is, even if an individual contracts the flu after receiving the influenza vaccine, the vaccine is likely to result in a less severe course of illness.

There is also some evidence to suggest that receipt of the influenza vaccine may be associated with reduced risks of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects. Vaccination may even reduce the risk of exacerbating underlying chronic conditions that may be triggered by influenza infection, such as heart failure or chronic obstructive lung disease.

Finally, receipt of the influenza vaccine in pregnancy conveys protection to both mother and infant, especially during the first few months of the newborn's life.

Current Influenza Vaccine Uptake Falls Short of Targets
The US Department of Health and Human Services has established a national influenza immunization target of 70% for the annual influenza season and across the general population, a core objective and health measure of the Healthy People 2030 initiative. In reality, current influenza vaccination uptake remains substantially below this target, with only an estimated 46.5% of adults 18 years of age or older receiving the influenza vaccine for the 2025-2026 influenza season.

If we are able to successfully meet influenza vaccination targets, we should expect fewer influenza cases, fewer provider office visits, fewer hospitalizations, fewer intensive care admissions for individuals experiencing influenza-related complications, and fewer influenza-related deaths.

Evidence suggests that we are also likely to experience a reduced risk of severe collateral health effects attributed to influenza infection in vulnerable populations. This is a powerful preventative health tool in our armamentarium, and every HCP should be aware of the collateral impacts and benefits of promoting influenza vaccination for individuals and our collective population’s health.

Your Thoughts
How do you communicate the direct and indirect benefits of influenza vaccines to your patients? Leave a comment to join the discussion and join us at our virtual live event, A Path to Protection: Purposeful Solutions to Power Up Influenza Vaccine Uptake, to learn more!

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