In late September, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning that received little attention. Approximately 200 children will die from influenza during the 2023-2024 season, a record high. According to the CDC, the vast majority (83%) of the children who died were eligible for the flu vaccine but did not receive it.
“It’s certainly a concern. Vaccination rates have been going down since the pandemic,” said Dr. Aaron Millstone, a pediatric infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Millstone and pediatric experts across the country have observed an increase in vaccine hesitancy since the pandemic, likely due to misinformation. But there may be an even bigger blind spot. That’s self-satisfaction. Parents, guardians, and caregivers may refrain from getting the influenza vaccine because, unlike other immunizations, it is not required in schools. Also, too many adults believe that the flu is not as much of a problem for children as it is for older adults. The CDC’s numbers may not be overwhelming, and their statistics don’t count the number of children who were hospitalized or seriously ill during last year’s flu season.
But Millstone succinctly explains what we know for sure. “Flu can kill children. Vaccines provide protection.”
Also, although the influenza vaccine does not guarantee that you will not get the flu, it can reduce symptoms and prevent it from becoming more severe.
“It’s hard, it’s really hard to see a child die in a preventable death,” Milston said.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, an expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and one of Mayor Brandon Scott’s senior health policy advisers, said despite disparities in health care, access to vaccinations in Baltimore is extremely poor. It is said to be good for
Sharfstein said there are no practical policy solutions to increase influenza vaccination for children. It’s about raising awareness.
“The problem for most urban kids is not financial access. Access is very good, but it’s not always necessary, so many kids don’t get the flu vaccine,” Sharfstein said. spoke. “But it’s something parents should be aware of. All parents should talk to their child’s doctor about getting the flu vaccine.”
Sharfstein, who previously served as the city’s health commissioner, said there is a widespread reputation that the flu is something you have to endure in the winter and is a part of everyday life.
“But the flu can be very serious,” he said. “Parents should treat influenza as one of many threats.”
Influenza season typically peaks from December to February, and clinicians now recommend influenza vaccination for patients six months of age and older. Children and adults can usually be vaccinated at a doctor’s office, local pharmacy, and sometimes at work or school.
The American Medical Association, the Advertising Council, the CDC, and the CDC Foundation have launched a new campaign, “Play Your Protection Against the Flu,” with public service announcements in English and Spanish. Their campaign specifically aims to increase vaccination rates in Black and Hispanic communities.
“Black and Hispanic people are at higher risk for serious complications from influenza due to long-standing health care disparities and disproportionately low vaccination rates,” said AMA President Dr. Bruce A. Scott.
The AMA notes that only half of U.S. residents received the flu vaccine during last year’s flu season, and an additional 35 million people contracted the flu. Nearly 400,000 people were hospitalized and about 25,000 died from influenza and related complications.
Experts consulted by the CDC predict a similar flu outbreak this year.
We know this is a busy time of year, especially for families with children. Just as we encourage you to use these pages to plan to vote, we also encourage you to plan for your flu vaccine. Science, data, and doctors are clear that influenza is a serious illness, and more influenza vaccinations usually mean fewer hospitalizations and deaths. Preventable deaths must be prevented.
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