On Sept. 13, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported two new influenza-related deaths in children the previous week, bringing the total for the 2023-2024 season to 199. Of the 158 children who were greater than 6 months of age and whose vaccination status was known, 131 (83%) were unvaccinated. About half of these children had high-risk medical conditions. This number equals the previous high of 199 reported during the 2019-2020 season.
Influenza vaccines can be lifesaving. During the 2022-2023 influenza season, researchers at the CDC found that influenza vaccine decreased the incidence of respiratory failure treated with mechanical ventilation by 66% (CI: 40%-81%) and influenza-associated ICU admission by 69% (59%-83%) (Lewis NM, Zhu Y, Pelton ID, Gaglani M, McNeal T, et al. “Vaccine effectiveness against influenza A-associated hospitalization, organ failure, and death: United States, 2022-2023,” Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Apr 10;78(4)1056-1064). In other words, many of these pediatric deaths were preventable. It is important for children to be fully vaccinated against influenza.
Contributed by: Paul A. Offit, MD
On Sept. 13, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported two new influenza-related deaths in children the previous week, bringing the total for the 2023-2024 season to 199. Of the 158 children who were greater than 6 months of age and whose vaccination status was known, 131 (83%) were unvaccinated. About half of these children had high-risk medical conditions. This number equals the previous high of 199 reported during the 2019-2020 season.
Influenza vaccines can be lifesaving. During the 2022-2023 influenza season, researchers at the CDC found that influenza vaccine decreased the incidence of respiratory failure treated with mechanical ventilation by 66% (CI: 40%-81%) and influenza-associated ICU admission by 69% (59%-83%) (Lewis NM, Zhu Y, Pelton ID, Gaglani M, McNeal T, et al. “Vaccine effectiveness against influenza A-associated hospitalization, organ failure, and death: United States, 2022-2023,” Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Apr 10;78(4)1056-1064). In other words, many of these pediatric deaths were preventable. It is important for children to be fully vaccinated against influenza.
Contributed by: Paul A. Offit, MD