Pediatric flu deaths rise to 52, with unvaccinated kids hit the hardest

Fifty-two children have died from the flu so far this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, which appears to put pediatric deaths on track to surpass last season’s record.

Ninety percent of these children had not received the annual flu vaccine, the CDC said.

“We are absolutely preparing,” said Michele Slafkosky, executive director of the nonprofit Families Fighting Flu. “We are concerned that we are not even at the height of flu season yet. »

Overall flu activity resumed last week, according to the CDC report, after several weeks of decline. The agency estimates there have been at least 20 million cases of flu so far this season, leading to 270,000 hospitalizations and 11,000 deaths.

It is not uncommon to have two waves of flu during the same season, especially as one strain replaces another.

While much of the flu circulating continues to be an A strain of influenza – particularly the K subclade of H3N2 – a B strain has begun to gain momentum.

Surveillance data from recent flu seasons shows an increase in flu in January and February after peaks in late December.

More sick children, fewer vaccinations

This season also saw the highest rate of children hospitalized with the flu in 15 years, according to Friday’s report.

By the end of December, the CDC said, the weekly rate of children under 18 hospitalized with the flu had reached the highest level seen since the 2010-2011 season.

And for the week ending Jan. 24, the percentage of emergency room visits resulting in a flu diagnosis increased among children ages 5 to 17, while remaining stable or declining for all other age groups.

The increase in the number of children seriously ill with the flu comes as vaccination rates continue to decline.

As of January 17, less than half of children aged 6 months to 17 years – 45.1% – had received the flu vaccine this season. During the 2019-2020 flu season, 63.7% were vaccinated.

The 2024-2025 season was the deadliest on record for children, with 289 deaths from pediatric flu. This time last year, 47 children had died.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration upended long-standing childhood vaccination recommendations, removing guidance that all children should get annual flu shots starting at 6 months of age, instead recommending that parents consult their pediatricians about whether their children should get a flu shot.

Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have denounced the changes and continue to recommend annual flu shots.

“How can we not see a correlation between more deaths and more hospitalizations with fewer vaccinations? Slavkosky said. “I can’t stress this enough: It’s not too late to get a flu shot. It may not prevent you from getting the flu, but it can prevent more serious complications and keep you and your children out of the hospital.”