Flu vaccines work! Just look at the data
05 Oct 2025Flu clinics and walk-ins available
By: Cheryl Nester Wolfe, RN, President and CEO
From the desk of Cheryl Nester Wolfe, RN, President and CEO
Flu shots aren’t just a seasonal checkbox. They’re a frontline defense — not just for ourselves, but for the communities we serve. Every year, the flu hospitalizes hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and kills tens of thousands.
And yet, every year, you may ask: Does the flu vaccine even work?
According to the data? Yes. Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: Flu vaccines reduce the risk of needing medical care by 40- to 60% during seasons when vaccines are well matched to circulating strains (CDC).
That’s not perfect, but it’s powerful — especially when every reduced case means one less hospital bed, one less vulnerable person infected, one less chance to bring the virus home to family and friends.
The vaccine also makes your illness less severe if you do get sick. It can mean the difference between a few miserable days at home . . . and needing a ventilator in the ICU. Among hospitalized adults, flu vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of ICU admission by 26%, and the risk of death by 31%. In one study, vaccinated patients who were admitted to the ICU spent an average of four fewer days in the hospital compared to unvaccinated patients (CDC).
And for those at higher risk — older adults, young children, pregnant people and anyone with chronic conditions — your flu shot could be the shield that keeps them safe. Flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalization by about 40% in older adults, according to a CDC review spanning five flu seasons (CDC).
In children, recent studies show flu vaccination cut the risk of life-threatening illness by 75%, reduced flu-related hospitalizations by 41%, and cut emergency department visits in half (CDC).
It’s not just about you. It’s about all of us.
At Salem Health, we’ve seen firsthand what “Care with Respect” looks like in action. It’s a night shift nurse giving directions to a worried mother. It’s an Environmental Services Assistant making a room safe for the next patient. And it’s you, showing up for your team — and protecting our community with a simple, safe and effective vaccine.
So, when flu season rolls around, don’t wait. We have clinics and walk-in appointments available. Get your shot. Do it for your patients. Do it for your friends and family. Do it because it works.
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