Oregon Health Authority urges flu vaccines amid worst flu season in years
On Thursday, the Oregon Health Authority announced 'significant influenza activity' in the state, noting Oregonians are continuing to be hospitalized during the time of the year when statewide flu activity starts winding down.
OHA is encouraging Oregonians to get vaccinated against the virus, especially as the state could see a late-season uptick in flu cases, which the state has seen in recent years.
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'This has been a year of very high flu activity,' said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. 'We want to remind people that there is still a lot of flu out there and to get their flu shots. Spread of flu can be unpredictable, and we often see another peak late in winter.'
According to OHA data, fewer people are getting flu shots, with vaccinations down 4% from 2024, and has been steadily dropping since 2022. As of March 1, more than 1.2 million Oregonians have received a flu vaccine this flu season.
'We would like 100% of people to be vaccinated to prevent the risk of severe disease, but we've seen the vaccination rate slip,' said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA's Public Health Division.
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The influenza virus causes a contagious, respiratory tract infection with symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy and runny nose, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue, OHA said – adding that the virus can cause severe illness leading to hospitalization and death.
Some groups, such as older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with certain health conditions are at a higher risk for serious complications from the flu, health officials said. Rates for hospitalization are the highest for people who are 65 years old and older.
According to OHA, the 2024-25 flu season has seen nearly 1,600 hospitalizations for flu across Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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