According to new CDC data, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths in the United States so far this flu season, the highest number in 15 years. Health experts say that declining flu vaccination rates among children likely contributed to this increase in deaths.
US sees most pediatric flu deaths in 15 years
As of the week ending on April 26, flu rates were on the decline across the country, with states only reporting low or minimal activity of influenza-like illnesses. However, CDC has classified the overall 2024-2025 flu season as being "high severity." It is the first high severity flu season since 2017-2018.
Children have experienced severe symptoms during this flu season, including pneumonia, dehydration, and organ failure. Anita Patel, a pediatric critical care doctor at Children's National Hospital, said this is the worst flu season she's seen in over a decade.
According to the latest CDC data, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths this flu season, the highest number since the swine flu pandemic in 2009-2010.
The total number of pediatric flu deaths is likely to grow since the final numbers for 2024-2025 likely won't be counted until autumn, as was the case last year
This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount, and one that — when the season is declared over, and they compile all the data — it's almost certain to go up," said Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist from the University of Colorado and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Currently, CDC estimates that there have been at least 47 million flu cases, 610,000 hospitalizations, and 26,000 deaths so far this flu season. The cumulative hospitalization rate for the season (127.4 cases per 100,000) is also the highest recorded since the 2010-2011 flu season.
Flu vaccination rates among children have fallen
According to O'Leary, several factors likely contributed to the overall severity of this year's flu season, but declining flu vaccination rates, especially among children, played a big role. Five years ago, almost 64% of children were vaccinated against the flu, but this flu season, only 49% of children were vaccinated.
Aside from growing vaccine skepticism, O'Leary said that fewer children may be getting vaccinated due to pediatrician offices being understaffed and no longer holding as many after-hours vaccination clinics. In addition, more Americans are receiving vaccinations at pharmacies, but not all pharmacies will vaccinate children.
Although the flu vaccine won't prevent people from developing symptoms, research has shown that it is highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death.
The high number of pediatric deaths this flu season are "a reminder that influenza is still a really serious disease," said Jesse Goodman, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University. "And I think … people don't differentiate mild respiratory viruses from the flu."
"Flu immunization is still a good idea. It's not perfect, we need [a] much better vaccine," Goodman added, "but this is something people need to take seriously."
"My hope is that this season will be a bit of wake-up call for folks that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza," O'Leary said.
(Stobbe, Associated Press, 5/2; Beusekom, CIDRAP News, 5/2; Bebernes, Yahoo!, 5/2; Weixel, The Hill, 5/2; CDC Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report Week 17, accessed 5/5)
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