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United States Value:
Percentage of adults who reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine in the past 12 months
Percentage of non-Hispanic Black adults who reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine in the past 12 months
46.0% - 41.5%
41.4% - 37.6%
37.5% - 35.3%
35.2% - 31.4%
31.3% - 24.7%
No Data
US Value: 41.3 %
Top State(s): Massachusetts: 53.7 %
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 33.0 %
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine in the past 12 months
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
The flu vaccine helps protect people against seasonal influenza viruses. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can lead to severe complications and even death. A flu vaccine is the best protection against seasonal influenza viruses. Each year in the United States, millions of people get the flu, and thousands of people die from the virus. Estimates suggest that during the 2022-2023 flu season, vaccines prevented 6 million flu-related illnesses and 65,000 hospitalizations associated with influenza in the United States. Getting vaccinated can reduce the severity of symptoms, defend against catching the virus and protect those with chronic illnesses. Hospitalizations for chronic conditions exacerbated by the flu, like diabetes and chronic lung disease, can also be reduced by vaccination. Flu vaccination is associated with lower rates of certain cardiac events in individuals with heart disease, particularly those who have experienced recent cardiac events.
Recent studies have estimated the annual economic burden of flu in the U.S. to be $11.2 billion annually, including direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine is higher among:
Achieving and maintaining adequate vaccination coverage among the population is critical to sustaining progress in reducing the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases. It is recommended that everyone get the flu vaccine annually, except for infants under 6 months of age and individuals with severe allergies to components of the vaccine. The Community Guide has several evidence-based community interventions to increase vaccination rates. Research has shown that implementing culturally-relevant communication campaigns and delivering vaccinations in unconventional locations can help increase flu vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minority groups.
The 2010 Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans to cover preventive services, including immunizations, without charging deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. Individuals can use the Vaccines.gov locator tool to easily find and make appointments with pharmacies offering flu shots near them. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers additional resources and information on obtaining free or low-cost vaccinations, including for individuals without insurance coverage.
Healthy People 2030 has a goal to increase the percentage of people who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza.
Bjork, Adam, and Valerie Morelli. “Immunization Strategies for Healthcare Practices and Providers.” In Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 14th ed. Washington, D.C.: Public Health Foundation, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-3-immunization-strategies.html.
Black, Carla L., Alissa O’Halloran, Mei-Chuan Hung, Anup Srivastav, Peng-jun Lu, Shikha Garg, Michael Jhung, Alicia Fry, Tara C. Jatlaoui, and Elizabeth Davenport. “Vital Signs: Influenza Hospitalizations and Vaccination Coverage by Race and Ethnicity—United States, 2009–10 Through 2021–22 Influenza Seasons.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 71, no. 43 (August 28, 2022): 1366–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7143e1.
Putri, Wayan C. W. S., David J. Muscatello, Melissa S. Stockwell, and Anthony T. Newall. “Economic Burden of Seasonal Influenza in the United States.” Vaccine 36, no. 27 (June 22, 2018): 3960–66.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.05.057.
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