NEW YORK (AP) — According to a federal report released on Friday, the number of U.S. children who have died this flu season has surpassed levels not seen since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 216 pediatric deaths, which is more than the 207 recorded last year. This is the highest number since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.
It’s quite alarming, especially since the flu season is still ongoing. The final tally for pediatric deaths for the 2023-2024 season won’t be finalized until autumn.
“What we have now is likely just the tip of the iceberg, and once the season wraps up and all data is compiled, that number is likely to rise,” commented Dr. Sean O’Leary from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Several factors could be contributing to the severity of this flu season, but a significant one appears to be the drop in flu vaccinations among children, noted O’Leary, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Colorado.
The vaccination rate for U.S. children has fallen sharply from approximately 64% five years ago to only 49% this season. While flu vaccines may not fully prevent symptoms, they are known to be very effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths, according to O’Leary.
The flu season has clearly impacted more than just children. CDC officials describe it as “highly severe” and estimate there have been at least 47 million illnesses, alongside 610,000 hospitalizations and about 26,000 deaths so far this season.
This report includes information on nearly 5,200 adults hospitalized with the flu this season, revealing that 95% had at least one underlying health condition. In contrast, among the 2,000 hospitalized children with more comprehensive health data, only around 53% had pre-existing conditions like asthma or obesity.
However, the CDC did not clarify how many of those children were vaccinated, and no expert was made available to comment further on the flu season.
On a brighter note, flu indicators have been decreasing since February, and as of last week, all 50 states reported low or minimal flu activity.
This season has seen a variety of flu strains circulating, unlike many previous years. Two different Type A strains—H1N1 and H3N2—have been responsible for many infections. But earlier CDC data indicated that flu shots were doing a reasonably good job at preventing serious outcomes.
The CDC continues to advise that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
In general, childhood vaccinations have declined, influenced by online misinformation and the political divide surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also echoed some sentiments from vaccine skeptics since stepping into the role of the nation’s health secretary.
O’Leary also suggested that there might be other reasons behind the drop in flu shots this year. Many pediatric offices are short-staffed and are not conducting as many after-hours clinics as they used to. Also, more people are getting vaccinated at pharmacies, but not all pharmacies administer vaccines to children.
I really hope this season serves as a wake-up call for parents, emphasizing the necessity of vaccinating kids against influenza, O’Leary said.
