This Week in MMWR: Vol. 73, February 29, 2024
February 29, 2024
In this IssueExcessive alcohol use, deathsRubella elimination — worldwideSeasonal flu vaccine effectivenessFlu vaccine effectiveness — CaliforniaUpdated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness
WEEKLY REPORT
Interim Effectiveness of Updated 2023–2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged ≥18 Years
Adults with healthy immune systems who received an updated COVID-19 vaccine were about 50% less likely to visit an ED, urgent care, or be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with those who didn't.
Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use
The average annual number of deaths from excessive alcohol use increased from 138,000 deaths per year during 2016-2017 to 178,000 deaths per year during 2020-2021 — a 29% increase.
Progress Toward Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination
>From 2012-2022, estimated global rubella vaccine coverage increased from 40% to 68%, and reported cases of rubella declined by 81%.
Interim Estimates of 2023–24 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness
Early data indicate that, in children, this season’s flu vaccines have reduced the risk of flu medical visits by two-thirds and flu-related hospitalizations by about half. For adults, flu vaccines have reduced the risk of flu medical visits by half and hospitalizations by 40%.
Interim Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza
During October 2023–January 2024, effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccines against influenza A and B was highest among people younger than 18 years (56%) and declined with age to 30% among adults 65 years or older.
QuickStats: Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years Who Had Chronic School Absenteeism Due to Illness, Injury, or Disability During the Past 12 Months, by Age Group and Year — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019 and 2022READ THE WEEKLY REPORTS
PDF of this issue (link)
CONTINUING EDUCATION
A new, free CE from MMWR and Medscape discusses trends in U.S. cannabis-involved emergency department visits in people under age 25 during the COVID-19 pandemic.EARN FREE CE
PODCAST
MMWR Weekly Briefing Podcast: Week of February 12
The latest MMWR Weekly Briefing is live. Topics include: the primary route of drug use involved in overdose deaths in the U.S., a successful hepatitis A vaccination campaign at the LA County jail, and more. Listen and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play.LISTEN NOW
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