DECEMBER 2024
National Influenza Vaccination Week is highlighted in December, this year from the 2nd to the 6th, and serves as a reminder the importance of the flu vaccine for anyone age 6 months and older.
The flu vaccine can help reduce the risk of illness, the risk of hospitalization, and even death if you have the flu. It is also important to highlight that you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine and that while the vaccine does not 100% prevent you from getting the illness, it does lower your chances of getting the flu and complications that can come with it.
According to the CDC, during the 2021-2022 flu season, there were 9 million instances of the flu, 100,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 flu deaths. It has also been shown that the flu vaccine can reduce children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit admission by 74%.
During this month is also World AIDs Day, which is honored on December 1st.
The purpose of this day it to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, honor those who’ve lost their lives due to AIDS-related illnesses, and support those living with HIV.
First established in 1988 by the World Health Organization, the aim of Worlds AIDs day is to reduce stigma, promote solidarity, and accelerate progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
According to HIV.gov:
- ~ 1.2 million people have HIV and about 13 percent of them don’t know it
- In 2022, it was estimated 31,800 people acquired HIV
- New HIV infections decreased 12% from 36,300 in 2018 to 31,800 in 2022
- 37,981 people aged 13 and older received an HIV diagnosis in the U.S.
- The highest rates of new diagnoses continue to occur in the South
The 2024 theme, "Collective Action Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress", calls for renewed efforts to end the epidemic through collaboration, advocacy, and expand access to treatment and prevention.