Fewer than half of adults and children received a seasonal flu vaccine last year, despite significant illness and health care visits resulting from the flu.

Consider these 5 facts about flu trends below as you’re having conversations with patients considering the seasonal flu vaccine:

• Less than half the population — 47 percent of adults and 48 percent of children and adolescents — received a flu vaccine during the 2025-2026 season.[1]
• Declining U.S. flu vaccinations (below 44% in some recent seasons) raises the possibility of increased clinical complications, particularly for individuals with a compromised immune system or managing a chronic condition.
• Flue season is beginning earlier each year. The 2026-2027 season arrived with the earliest start to date int hep ost-pandemic era- seven weeks ahead of the previous two years, according to industry data. [2]
• Flu-associated hospitalizations in 2025-2026 were the third highest since the 2010–2011 flu season.
• 58.4 percent of patients said they would get a flu vaccine based on their provider’s recommendation alone.[3]

Why this matters

Increased risk for complications. Unvaccinated patients are at risk for not only catching the flu or other respiratory illnesses, but also for complications due to other chronic conditions, which are more difficult to manage and place more strain on the healthcare system. The majority of patients hospitalized with the flu typically have underlying health issues such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma and obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. ³

Administrative burden for busy practices. When patients do not receive a seasonal flu vaccine, this often results in time-consuming follow-up for providers and practice staff managing missed opportunities, rescheduling shots or tracking down non-compliant patients.

Downstream effects on practice quality metrics. Lower patient adherence rate with adult immunization targets can negatively impact clinical quality benchmarks and practice incentives. High volumes of acute, preventable respiratory visits disrupt regular chronic disease management and preventive care schedules, while lower vaccination rates can impact practice quality metrics or public health reporting goals.

Flu prevention is best handled on the front end, in the primary care setting. Even a brief conversation about flu vaccination can help patients make informed decisions.

HEDIS measures

For information on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)⁵ measures related to the flu vaccine, visit the National Committee for Quality Assurance web page, HEDIS Measures and Technical Resources.

Cigna Healthcare^® coverage

The annual flu shot is typically covered at no cost when administered at in-network locations, which your patients can find by logging in to myCigna.com.

You can learn more information about our coverage policies related to preventive care services in the Preventive Care Services Coverage Policy (A004).

[1] 10 things to know about this year’s surprisingly fierce flu season | AAMC

[2] Influenza Season Is Here Early This Year

[3] People with Chronic Medical Conditions Continue to Account for The Majority of Flu Hospitalizations This Season | Influenza (Flu) | CDC

1. Influenza Activity and Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness During the 2025-2026 Influenza Season | Public Health | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
2. Interim Estimates of 2025–26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, September 2025–February 2026 | MMWR
3. Exploring Patient Trust in Healthcare Provider Influenza Vaccine Information and Recommendations in a Medically Underserved Area of Washington State.
4. Making a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation.
5. HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).