Dec 24, 2024 12:00:00

Influenza begins to spread rapidly in areas where flu vaccination advertising is banned

It has been reported that influenza infections are spreading rapidly in the state of Louisiana in the United States. It has been revealed that the Louisiana Department of Health has banned the advertising and promotion of influenza vaccines for the 2024-2025 season, and it is suspected that this is related to the influenza epidemic.

Flu surges in Louisiana as health department barred from promoting flu shots - Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/flu-surges-in-louisiana-as-health-department-barred-from-promoting-flu-shots/

According to Louisiana Department of Health officials, a policy change was notified to employees during meetings held in October and November 2024 that prohibits advertising and promotion of influenza, COVID-19 and MOX vaccines. Influenza vaccination events that were held every fall have also been canceled.

Reports that the Health Bureau has banned advertising and promotion of influenza, COVID-19 and Mpox vaccinations - GIGAZINE

The health department issued a statement about the ban on vaccine advertising, saying, 'It reflects a shift away from uniform, paternalistic guidance to an attitude that vaccination with any vaccine, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, etc. are personal choices.' Social media posts also included four points of caution: 'Wash your hands,' 'Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing,' 'Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth,' and 'Clean indoor air by letting in fresh outside air,' but did not mention vaccinations.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Louisiana reached a 'very high' influenza epidemic level during the week of December 8-14, 2024. The graph below visualizes how prevalent influenza is in each state in the United States. Louisiana has the highest influenza epidemic stage in the United States.

The proportion of outpatient visits due to influenza in the entire United States is 3.8%, which is the average level. The influenza epidemic in Louisiana is suspected to be related to the ban on vaccine advertising.

In

Japan , the number of influenza patients reported from approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide during the week from December 9 to 15, 2024 was 94,259, a sharp increase of approximately two times compared to the previous week. Based on the reports, it is estimated that approximately 720,000 people nationwide are infected with influenza, so caution is required for future epidemics.