Mississippi receives Medicaid for 20% of its population compared to the USA which receives 18%. (A link for the curious - click here) The majority of recipients of the Mississippi program are children. 68% of Mississippi children are covered by Medicaid with 32% of adults. California is 18%, 58% and 42% which are closer to national averages. DC is 25%, 40% and 60%. Those are higher averages than the nation.
A Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report (click here)
While not everyone will receive a flu vaccination, Public Health policy usually dictates as many should be vaccinated to prevent epidemics. So, while spead is from east to west and eventually the ranking of California will no doubt change, the fact the recovery rate of any widespread occurrence is recovering more quickly in states leaning toward aggressive public policy in vaccinating as many as possible is significant. No doubt those vaccinated, if they succumb, will recover more quickly than if they weren't vaccinated. So, while effectiveness from this strain of flu may be only 65% or so, that doesn't mean the vaccination never was effective for a better outcome.
There are economic impacts of the flu. The obvious is time off from work from being ill and the need to take care of children.
By LINSEY DAVIS (@LinseyDavis) and AMANDA KEEGAN
Jan. 11, 2013
The flu outbreak (click here) that is sweeping the nation has caused one school district in Oklahoma to cancel classes as 25 percent of the student body is ill with the flu.
On Thursday, the Kiefer public school district announced they would cancel today's classes to give students the weekend to rest as nearly 150 of the 650 student-body are suffering from the flu.
Kiefer, located 30 minutes south of Tulsa, will use today's day off to clean all of the water fountains, lockers, desks and chairs in the school district,according to ABC News affiliate KTUL....
