Mortality rate for influenza in the U.S. in 2019-2020, by age group

The mortality rate from influenza in the United States is by far highest among those aged 65 years and older. During the 2019-2020 flu season the mortality rate from influenza for this age group was around 22 per 100,000 population. Influenza and pneumonia are currently the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.

The burden of influenza

The impact of influenza in the U.S. varies from season to season, but in the 2018-2019 flu season there were an estimated 35.5 million cases. These cases resulted in around 16.5 million medical visits and 490,561 hospitalizations. Although most people recover from influenza without requiring medical treatment, the disease can be deadly for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses. During the 2018-2019 flu season, over 34,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives due to influenza.

Impact of vaccinations

The most effective way to prevent influenza is to receive a yearly vaccination at the beginning of flu season. Flu vaccines are safe and can greatly reduce the burden of the disease. During the 2018-2019 flu season vaccinations prevented around 2,625 deaths among those aged 65 years and older. Although flu vaccines are usually cheap and easily accessible, every year a large share of the population in the U.S. still does not get vaccinated. For example, during the 2018-2019 flu season only about 35 percent of those aged 18 to 49 years received a flu vaccination.