Number of flu-related deaths in the U.S. in 2021-2022, by age group

During the 2021-2022 flu season in the United States, around 4,977 people died from influenza. The vast majority of deaths due to influenza occur among the elderly, with those aged 65 years and older accounting for 4,115 deaths during the 2021-2022 flu season. During this time, the mortality rate from influenza among those aged 65 years and older was around 7.4 per 100,000 population, compared to a mortality rate of .1 per 100,000 population among those aged 18 to 49 years.

Influenza deaths

Although most people recover from influenza without the need of medical care, influenza and pneumonia are still major causes of death in the United States. Influenza is a common cause of pneumonia and cases in which influenza develops into pneumonia tend to be more severe and more deadly. However, the impact of influenza varies from year to year depending on which viruses are circulating. For example, during the 2017-2018 flu season around 52,000 people died due to influenza, whereas in 2019-2020 total deaths amounted to just 25,000.

Preventing death

The most effective way to prevent influenza is to receive a yearly influenza vaccination. These vaccines have proven to be safe and are usually cheap and easily accessible. Today, many employers in the United States even offer onsite seasonal flu vaccinations to their employees. Each year flu vaccinations prevent thousands of influenza cases, hospitalizations and deaths. It was estimated that during the 2021-2022 flu season, vaccinations prevented the deaths of around 867 people aged 65 years and older.