A severe flu season has claimed the lives of at least 216 children in the United States, the highest pediatric toll in 15 years, according to new data released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figure surpasses last year's 207 deaths and marks the most recorded in a single flu season since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.
CDC officials labeled the 2023-2024 flu season "highly severe," noting that national flu activity is beginning to decline but cautioning that the pediatric death count is expected to rise as more data is finalized. "This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount," said Dr. Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Colorado and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. "When the season is declared over, and they compile all the data - it's almost certain to go up."
Among 2,000 hospitalized children with detailed health data, 47% had no underlying health conditions. This contrasts sharply with adult flu patients, 95% of whom had at least one pre-existing condition, according to CDC analysis.
The rise in deaths coincides with a troubling drop in childhood flu vaccination rates. As of April 19, only 49% of children had received a flu shot, down from 53% at the same time last year and well below the 64% rate recorded five years ago. O'Leary said that "My hope is that this season will be a bit of a wake-up call for folks that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza."
Flu vaccines do not always prevent illness, but they are shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. "Flu immunization is still a good idea. It's not perfect, we need much better vaccine," said Jesse Goodman, professor of infectious diseases at Georgetown University. "But this is something people need to take seriously."
The CDC estimates the season has caused at least:
- 47 million illnesses
- 610,000 hospitalizations
- 26,000 deaths
Although flu indicators have waned since February, 12 additional pediatric deaths were reported in the week ending April 26. The season featured a broader mix of circulating strains, including H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. Preliminary data show this year's flu vaccines performed well at preventing severe outcomes.
Experts point to several factors behind lower vaccination rates. Many pediatric clinics remain understaffed and no longer offer after-hours flu shot appointments. Meanwhile, an increasing number of families turn to pharmacies for immunizations, many of which do not vaccinate children. Broader vaccine hesitancy fueled by online misinformation and political backlash against COVID-19 inoculation campaigns may also be contributing, with some health officials citing rhetoric from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as amplifying skepticism.
