About 6.6 million people who would have gotten sick during the 2012-2013 flu season, didn't, thanks to the flu shot, according to a new government report. In addition, flu vaccination prevented about 3 million influenza illnesses that would have required medical attention and 79,000 hospitalizations from influenza illness during last year's flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. In total, last flu season there were 31.8 million influenza-associated illnesses, 14.4 influenza illnesses that required medical attention and 381,000 hospitalizations due to influenza illness.
