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.