NO FLU ALARM
Local cases stable, but officials urge vigilance amid low vax rates, rising global threat
Published:Friday | January 9, 2026 | 12:11 AMCorey Robinson/Senior Staff Reporter
Flu vaccine uptake has been reported as low even as severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) remain at seasonal levels – or at the level typically expected for this time of the year – according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Jamaica’s influenza season runs from October through April of the following year, and the latest surveillance data reflects information up to December 27, 2025.
“Influenza-like illnesses are below seasonal levels. SARI is at seasonal levels, with SARI hospitalisations being less than one per cent of all admissions at sentinel sites,” Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told The Gleaner yesterday. “In this influenza season (2025-2026), there have been no reported SARI deaths.”
However, he noted that flu vaccination rates remain low.
“Flu vaccine uptake has been very low based on data from ... October to November. Data for December is still pending,” Tufton said, adding that post-hurricane disruptions may have affected vaccination activities.
A new, aggressive influenza variant that caused severe outbreaks abroad is now the dominant flu strain in the United States. The US has seen at least 11 million flu cases, 120,000 hospitalisations, and 5,000 deaths so far this season, according to CDC data.
Despite the generally stable outlook locally, Tufton urged the public to remain vigilant.
“What we’re seeing in North America is an indication of the possibilities, and it does represent a threat to us given the busy travel schedule between North America and Jamaica, and so we would certainly advise people to be cautious, to wear their masks if they think they are exposed, and, of course, to sanitise,” he said. “It is important that we protect ourselves because things can change very rapidly.”
Meanwhile, the ministry said its Family Health Unit was writing to regional health authorities requesting reports on flu vaccine outreach sessions conducted at residential facilities, including infirmaries, correctional facilities, children’s homes, and shelters. High-risk front-line workers are also included in the reporting requirements, which are due at the end of the month.
Regional authorities have also been asked to submit the names of health facilities offering the flu vaccine by January 14 and to ensure that all administered doses are entered into the database in a timely manner.
The ministry further indicated that it was not aware of any shortages of self-care medications such as painkillers or antibiotics covered under the National Health Fund. This assurance was echoed by representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica, who reported no supply shortfalls.
Infectious disease specialist at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Dr Kathy-Ann Pate-Robinson, raised concerns about the overall health status of the population, which she said can worsen the impact of the flu.
“You will find that the average Jamaican is not as healthy as they were years ago. There are a lot of persons with underlying conditions which compound the flu,” said Pate-Robinson, pointing to non-communicable diseases as a major contributing factor.
She also stressed the importance of routine medical checkups, particularly for adults.
“For children, it is routine, but for adults, it is not. And many times, they can better prepare themselves against things like the flu if they do their annual checkups,” she said, noting that proper hygiene practices and transmission prevention remained key to reducing the spread of infections.