1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable

As flu cases climb across the country and pediatric deaths rise, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, ASTHO member and Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, joins us to break down what this flu season means for families, health agencies, and health care systems.  Dr. Bagdasarian discusses the troubling decline in flu vaccine uptake since 2020, the risks of overlapping surges of flu, COVID-19, and RSV, and why flu vaccination remains critical, even when it doesn’t prevent every infection. She explains how vaccines reduce severe illness and hospitalizations, helping protect already-strained health systems. The conversation also explores vaccine hesitancy during pregnancy, the importance of maternal vaccination, and how personal stories paired with data can help rebuild trust. Dr. Bagdasarian shares insight into the emerging H3N2 subclade K flu strain, what early data shows about vaccine effectiveness, and how public health officials are tracking flu trends using multiple surveillance tools.

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