States with the highest flu vaccination rates

Canva Your yearly flu vaccine protects you and those around you from the influenza virus, which could be deadly. Getting vaccinated too early could mean you may have reduced immunity by the time the flu virus circulates in your community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu vaccine in September or October to prepare for the flu season in the late fall and winter. Flu vaccines are updated yearly to protect against the viruses in circulation for the upcoming flu season. Vaccines are readily available through places such as health departments, community clinics, and pharmacies. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to produce enough antibodies to the virus to fully protect you against the flu. Rates of the flu have dropped dramatically in the last couple of years, mainly due to measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19: mask-wearing, social distancing, and reduced travel. However, experts warn of a potential resurgence of the flu in 2022 since many pandemic-related restrictions have dropped. Most people over 6 months old can get a flu vaccine, including pregnant women and those with egg allergies. Flu vaccines are administered either as an intramuscular injection, usually in the upper arm, or as a nasal spray. Vaccines can protect against three strains of the flu virus (trivalent vaccines) or four strains of the virus (quadrivalent vaccines). The most common side effects of the injectable flu vaccine are soreness at the injection site, muscle aches, and a fever. The side effects of the nasal spray vaccine are the same but may also include a runny nose. People over 65 should get one of two vaccines: A high-dose quadrivalent vaccine, which contains four times the flu antigen of the standard vaccine (the flu antigen prompts the body’s immune response), or an adjuvanted vaccine, which encourages a more robust immune response. In the U.S., both vaccines are approved solely for those over 65. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine is safe to administer at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. While this may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects like fatigue or muscle aches, some might opt to get both vaccines simultaneously for convenience. To determine the peak seasonal flu vaccination rate for every state, Stacker consulted the CDC’s Influenza Seasons Vaccination Coverage Report. Data on flu vaccination coverage for children 6 months to 17 years is based on CDC’s National Immunization Survey-Flu, and coverage for adults is based on CDC survey data. States are ranked by their peak vaccination coverage for the most recent flu season, with most data collection finishing in May or June of 2022. You may also like: States with the highest marriage rates–and how they’ve changed #51. Mississippi Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 38.2% – 13.2% points lower than the national rate #50. Wyoming Mark Winfrey // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 41.2% – 10.2% points lower than the national rate #49. Nevada Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 42.0% – 9.4% points lower than the national rate #47. Idaho (tie) Jacob L. // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 42.3% – 9.1% points lower than the national rate #47. Florida (tie) Impact Photography // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 42.3% – 9.1% points lower than the national rate You may also like: What a Roe v. Wade reversal could mean for abortion access across America #46. Oklahoma Juice Flair // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 42.9% – 8.5% points lower than the national rate #45. Louisiana Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 43.1% – 8.3% points lower than the national rate #44. Arizona Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 44.1% – 7.3% points lower than the national rate #43. Montana Karin Hildebrand Lau // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 46.3% – 5.1% points lower than the national rate #42. Georgia VILevi // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 46.5% – 4.9% points lower than the national rate You may also like: 20 influential Indigenous Americans you might not know about #41. Texas f11photo // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 46.6% – 4.8% points lower than the national rate #40. Tennessee Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 47.0% – 4.4% points lower than the national rate #39. Alabama PanyaStudio // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 47.1% – 4.3% points lower than the national rate #37. West Virginia (tie) Robert Hoetink // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 47.8% – 3.6% points lower than the national rate #37. South Carolina (tie) Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 47.8% – 3.6% points lower than the national rate You may also like: Here’s how much legislation in each state restricts or protects trans youth #36. California Matt Gush // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 48.1% – 3.3% points lower than the national rate #35. Kentucky f11photo // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 48.5% – 2.9% points lower than the national rate #34. Alaska Ramunas Bruzas // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 49.0% – 2.4% points lower than the national rate #33. Ohio Pedro Gutierrez // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 49.6% – 1.8% points lower than the national rate #31. Oregon (tie) MedStockPhotos // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 49.8% – 1.6% points lower than the national rate You may also like: Most pet-friendly cities in America #31. Arkansas (tie) Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 49.8% – 1.6% points lower than the national rate #30. Missouri toodtuphoto // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 49.9% – 1.5% points lower than the national rate #29. Utah stellamc // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 50.3% – 1.1% points lower than the national rate #28. Indiana JDMcGauley // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 50.4% – 1.0% points lower than the national rate #27. North Carolina Jeffery Edwards // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 50.6% – 0.8% points lower than the national rate You may also like: 50 terms with origins in rural America #26. New Mexico Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 51.7% – 0.3% points higher than the national rate #25. Illinois Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 51.9% – 0.5% points higher than the national rate #24. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 52.6% – 1.2% points higher than the national rate #23. Kansas APN Photography // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 52.9% – 1.5% points higher than the national rate #22. Wisconsin Big Fish Drones // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 53.3% – 1.9% points higher than the national rate You may also like: States with the most homelessness #21. Delaware Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 53.4% – 2.0% points higher than the national rate #20. New York rblfmr // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 54.4% – 3.0% points higher than the national rate #19. Hawaii Leigh Trail // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 54.5% – 3.1% points higher than the national rate #18. Nebraska Aspects and Angles // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 54.6% – 3.2% points higher than the national rate #16. South Dakota (tie) Ken Wolter // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.1% – 3.7% points higher than the national rate You may also like: 50 famous things banned in the U.S. #16. Pennsylvania (tie) Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.1% – 3.7% points higher than the national rate #15. Iowa JamesPatrick.pro // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.3% – 3.9% points higher than the national rate #14. Virginia Photographee.eu // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.6% – 4.2% points higher than the national rate #13. Michigan Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.7% – 4.3% points higher than the national rate #12. Washington Real Window Creative // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 55.9% – 4.5% points higher than the national rate You may also like: 50 facts about food insecurity in America #11. Colorado Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 57.5% – 6.1% points higher than the national rate #10. Minnesota Ken Wolter // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 57.7% – 6.3% points higher than the national rate #9. Maine PhotoItaliaStudio // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 58.5% – 7.1% points higher than the national rate #8. New Jersey Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 59.3% – 7.9% points higher than the national rate #7. Vermont Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 60.9% – 9.5% points higher than the national rate You may also like: Biggest Native American tribes in the U.S. today #6. Maryland Real Window Creative // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 61.9% – 10.5% points higher than the national rate #5. New Hampshire Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 62.1% – 10.7% points higher than the national rate #4. Massachusetts Erickson Stock // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 62.9% – 11.5% points higher than the national rate #3. Connecticut Bruce Peter // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 63.0% – 11.6% points higher than the national rate #2. Washington DC A G Baxter // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 63.7% – 12.3% points higher than the national rate You may also like: Web3 is coming–here’s what you should know #1. Rhode Island Tupungato // Shutterstock – Peak flu vaccination coverage, 2021-2022 season: 66.1% – 14.7% points higher than the national rate