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The CDC estimates there have been 7.5 million cases so far this season, up from 4.6 million just the week before, and already more than 3,000 deaths.
Lisa Groskopf is a medical officer at the CDC.
Probably the most important thing is that if you haven't gotten a vaccine is to get one.
Now, NPR did get a follow-up email from a different CDC spokesperson saying vaccines are a personal choice and that people should speak with their health care providers about the risks and benefits.
Adult flu vaccination rates in the U.S.
The latest data comes from the period before people gathered for Christmas.
It shows a steep increase in cases, and more than 19,000 people were hospitalized for flu in that one week, almost twice as many as the previous week.
Andrew Pekosz with Johns Hopkins University says the surge started in the Northeast.
The strain of flu driving up cases is not a great match for this year's flu vaccine.
But experts say the shot provides more protection than no vaccine at all.
The latest data comes from the period before people gathered for Christmas.
It shows a steep increase in cases, and more than 19,000 people were hospitalized for flu in that one week, almost twice as many as the previous week.
Andrew Pekosz with Johns Hopkins University says the surge started in the Northeast.
The strain of flu driving up cases is not a great match for this year's flu vaccine.