Blog by www.cdc.gov
More Vaccination Needed for People from Some Racial/Ethnic Groups
Flu can be serious and lead to hospitalization or death. Flu vaccination is the best way to protect against flu. Between 140,000 and 710,000 people were hospitalized with flu each year during 2010–2020. People from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be hospitalized with flu. Compared to White adults, flu hospitalization rates* are:
- Nearly 80% higher among Black adults
- 30% higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults
- 20% higher among Hispanic adults
Vaccination may not always prevent infection, but it can make symptoms less severe and reduce the risk of being hospitalized.