Recognize and Treat the Flu Promptly With an Antiviral*
How effective is vaccination against the flu?
Despite their availability and essential role in flu prevention, flu
vaccines are not always used or are not always effective, leaving
millions of people at risk. 9
In the 2019-2020 flu season, vaccination coverage across the
United States was only 48% for adults and 53% for adolescents
aged 13 to 17 years.
18
In the 2019-2020 flu season, the adjusted estimated vaccine
effectiveness against the influenza A and B viruses was only
39%. Vaccine effectiveness has varied from 19% to 60% over the
2009-2020 flu seasons.
19,20
Influenza antivirals have been shown to shorten the duration of
flu symptoms.
15
What serious risks are associated with the flu?
Most patients who get the flu recover in 3 to 14 days, but influenza
can cause complications that could be life threatening.
4,10
For high-risk patients, the dangers of the flu are even greater and can lead to serious complications or even death. 4,10
How is the flu different from a cold or COVID-19? 10,21-28†
The below table can serve as a convenient reference for summarizing
the differences between the flu, the common cold, and COVID-19.
Some symptoms of the flu can be quite similar to and/or overlap
with the typical symptoms of COVID-19 and the common cold.
21,22
When there is a clinical diagnosis of flu or suspected flu, the CDC
recommends treating flu patients empirically—especially those
at high risk for developing complications—with an antiviral flu
treatment. Empiric antiviral treatment is also recommended for
non–high-risk outpatients with suspected influenza based on clinical
judgment, including without an office visit, in communities where
influenza is circulating. 15‡
The CDC updates its Antiviral and Treatment Recommendations every
year and has included XOFLUZA among its list of antiviral medications
recommended for the flu. 15‡
*Treating with single-dose XOFLUZA promptly (within 48 hours of
symptom onset) can help alleviate flu symptoms. 1
†Single-dose XOFLUZA does not
treat COVID-19 or the common cold.
‡Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC does not
endorse private products, services, or enterprises. The content
provided is for informational purposes only. Find the latest at
CDC.gov.

Help Prevent the Flu
Patients can reduce their risk of contracting the flu after exposure
to an infected household member by taking single-dose XOFLUZA.