Model Shows Large Impact of Flu Shots on US Disease Burden

Vaccination against influenza has a substantial annual impact on the burden of disease in the US, according to the results of a unique model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination program prevents influenza-related illnesses and hospitalizations on a very large scale, it estimates, avoiding about 40,000 hospitalizations in 2010-2011. The higher the coverage, the fewer the influenza cases, patient visits, and hospitalizations.
Influenza Illness and Hospitalizations Averted by Influenza Vaccination in the United States, 2005-2011  PLoS One | Jun 19, 2013 (FREE FULL TEXT)