Remember back to the throes of the pandemic, when the flu was basically nonexistent thanks to infection control measures taken for COVID-19? Now, the influenza virus is back with a vengeance.
Recently revealed data shows flu season is becoming more lethal for children as the number of kids getting vaccinated for influenza continues to drop.
Nearly 200 children died from flu-related complications in the 2023-2024 season, including two within the past few weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of deaths reported so far this season -- 199 -- equals the previous high reported during the 2019-2020 season.
Most of the children who died from the flu were eligible for a vaccine but did not receive one, according to the CDC. Of the 158 children whose vaccination status is known, 131 (83%) were not fully vaccinated.
"Flu vaccination can be lifesaving for children and has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness in people," the CDC said in a statement. "September and October are good times to be vaccinated."
Estimates show that flu vaccination last season reduced the risk of doctor's visits by about two-thirds and flu-related hospitalization by about half for vaccinated children, the CDC said.
Among flu-related deaths reported in children this season, 73 were younger than 5 years old, and 126 were between 5 and 17 years. Of the 189 pediatric deaths that were among children with known information on medical conditions, 93 (49%) had at least one pre-existing condition.
About half of the reported deaths (105) were associated with influenza A virus infections. Among those that were subtyped, 43 were influenza A(H1N1), and 16 were influenza A(H3N2) viruses. Influenza B viruses were associated with 91 (46%) child deaths this season. There were also three coinfections with influenza A and influenza B viruses.
Flu vaccine uptake among children was lagging compared to previous seasons, according to CDC data. Specifically, coverage for the 2023-2024 season for all children as of May 11, 2024, was 2.2 percentage points lower than the previous season (53.9% compared with 56.0%) and 8.5 percentage points lower compared with pre-pandemic coverage in May 2020 (62.4%). Additionally, disparities in flu vaccination coverage related to urbanicity, race, and ethnicity are worsening, the CDC said.
The number of flu-related child deaths reported each season since the CDC began tracking data has ranged from a low of one (2020-2021) to a high of 199 (2019-2020 and 2023-2024). Prior to the pandemic, the record low for pediatric deaths was 37, which was during the 2011-2012 season.
Getting a flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu illnesses, doctor's visits, and missed school days and reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization and death. Children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain underlying conditions are at increased risk of developing serious flu-related complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine, especially children at higher risk for serious flu complications.