Flu hospitalizations in Colorado were high this season

Colorado’s flu season, which started in September, is finally over and the numbers hit records. Nearly 3,400 people were hospitalized for the flu, with cases in 56 Colorado counties. 

State epidemiologist Dr. Lisa Miller says one issue this year was a flu vaccine that was just 19 percent effective against the H3N2 strain that was going around.

• Feb. 16: Record flu hospitalizations for Colorado

“Most years it is much better than it was this year, and we’d expect it would be 50 to 60 percent effective,” she explained.

This year the elderly were hit hard with outbreaks reported at 114 long-term care facilities. Also, six children died from the flu, when a typical year might see just a couple of fatalities.