With one new death reported last week, the number of children dying from influenza in the 2023-2024 season set a new record for a typical flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There were 199 pediatric influenza-related deaths in the 2019-2022 season, compared to 200 in the 2023-2024 season.
About 80% of children who died from the flu this season were not fully vaccinated against the flu, according to CDC data. Nearly half of the children had at least one pre-existing medical condition.
According to the CDC, it is recommended that people 6 months and older receive their annual influenza vaccine by the end of October.
The CDC notes that children up to age 8 who receive their first flu shot should receive two doses if they have not previously received one.
Seniors 65 and older are at higher risk for severe illness, including hospitalization and death, and may choose to receive high-dose influenza vaccination for added protection. “Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent illness and reduce the risk of serious complications in children,” said Dr. John Brownstein, chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and medical contributor for ABC News. It’s a tool.”
In recent years, the influenza vaccination rate for children has been on the decline. Approximately 53.9% of children received influenza vaccination this season, down about 2.2 percentage points from last season and 8.5 percentage points from before the pandemic.
“The decline in influenza vaccination rates among children is very concerning and is at least partially related to the increase in pediatric cases that we are witnessing,” Brownstein said.
According to the CDC, influenza vaccination is estimated to reduce children’s risk of influenza visits by about two-thirds and cut their risk of hospitalization by half.
“We must address this decline in vaccinations to prevent further unnecessary and preventable loss of young lives,” Brownstein added.
Influenza viruses circulate year-round, but influenza activity typically increases in the fall and winter and peaks between December and February.
The impact of influenza varies by season, but the CDC estimates that the virus has sickened up to 41 million people annually over the past decade, resulting in 710,000 hospitalizations and 51,000 deaths.
“This season’s record number of childhood influenza deaths clearly shows how serious influenza is,” Brownstein said.
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