CDC ends influenza vaccination media campaign

Why would they stop this now?

Two CDC staffers spoke with NPR anonymously, stating that the Department of Health and Human Services told CDC staff yesterday that their successful “Wild to Mild” influenza vaccine media campaign would no longer continue.

It was a clever campaign with a simple message, “A flu vaccine can take flu from Wild to Mild.” I heard this campaign on the radio several times while driving to one of my clinics. It makes sense. While the influenza vaccine is not always highly effective at preventing infection, it is highly effective at reducing the risk of severe disease that results in an emergency room visit, hospitalization or death.

The current state of influenza is not a great one. As of the week of February 8, 2025, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths (including 68 children) from flu so far this season. There is also the ongoing threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

While the campaign was primarily a digital one, there was branding wrapped around trains in four major cities and ads at mass transit stations. It is unclear when the campaign would have ended, but it was most likely going to stay on for the remainder of the influenza season.

It is not too late to get a flu vaccine, so please share this message with others because it is not too late.

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