Why Is This Important?

Influenza and pneumonia combined were the eleventh leading cause of death among New Jersey residents and ninth among all US residents in 2020.

Definition

Deaths with influenza or pneumonia as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: J09-J18

Influenza and pneumonia are combined for ranking as a leading cause of death, however the majority (86.0 to 99.9%, depending on the year) of those deaths are due to pneumonia. Not all pneumonia deaths are related to influenza. Pneumonia can also be due to other viruses as well as bacteria. See https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/J09-J18 for a complete list.

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)
• Underlying Cause of Death, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Although influenza and pneumonia are combined for cause of death ranking purposes, pneumonia comprised 93% of those deaths in 2020. The age-adjusted death rate due to influenza and pneumonia had been generally declining for many years before rising in 2020. For 2018-2020, county death rates due to influenza and pneumonia per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) ranged from a low of 9.5 in Burlington to a high of 25.0 in Salem.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The New Jersey age-adjusted death rate due to influenza and pneumonia was significantly below that of the U.S. until 2020, likely due to the early onset of COVID-19 in New Jersey that year.

What Is Being Done?

The New Jersey Department of Health has several programs that track influenza and pneumonia infections or that track and/or promote vaccination. Health care professionals are to immediately call in confirmed or suspected cases of influenza to the local health department.

The Vaccines for Children Program provides pediatric vaccines at no cost to doctors who serve children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay.

Evidence-based Practices

Annual influenza vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection and its complications.¹ Vaccination against pneumococcal disease has been effective in reducing infections among seniors and persons with certain medical conditions.²

Available Services

Find a Flu Shot: https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/

Request a copy of your or your child's immunization record from NJIIS

More Resources

NJDOH Communicable Disease Service: http://nj.gov/health/cd/

NJDOH Vaccine Preventable Disease Program: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/vpdp.shtml

NJDOH Seasonal Flu Info: http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/flu.shtml

CDC Pneumonia Info: https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/

CDC Influenza Info: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

Footnote References

1. CDC, Prevent Seasonal Flu, 3/20/24

2. CDC, Pneumonia Prevention and Control, 10/23/23