At least 216 children dead from flu this season, marking 15-year high: CDC

Two hundred and sixteen children have died from the flu this season, marking the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in 15 years, according to a report released Friday, May 2, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The last time the U.S. saw a higher mortality rate was during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009-2010, when 288 children died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

‘Almost certainly an undercount’

Flu season typically lasts from October until May, with peaks between December and February, meaning pediatric deaths could rise further. The death toll for the 2023-2024 flu season, which killed 207 children, didn’t become clear until last autumn.

“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,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the University of Colorado and member of the AAP, said.

‘Highly severe’ flu season and lower vaccination rates

Overall, the CDC has characterized this year’s flu season as “highly severe,” with an estimated 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations, and 26,000 deaths across all age groups.

According to O’Leary, the higher pediatric death toll is due to fewer children receiving flu vaccines. Vaccination rates among younger Americans have dipped from about 64% five years ago to a current rate of 49%.

The CDC’s report did not detail the vaccination status of those who have died from the flu this season. It does, however, note that of 2,000 children who were hospitalized with the flu, roughly 53% had an underlying condition, including asthma and obesity.

Why are vaccination rates declining?

Vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic thrust distrust of inoculations into the spotlight. That position was further bolstered by President Donald Trump’s appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has long questioned the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

However, O’Leary said the issue of lower vaccination rates is more complex. He cited understaffed pediatric offices and fewer after-hours vaccination clinics as contributing to lower rates among children. Similarly, O’Leary said more people are turning to pharmacies for their vaccinations, which sometimes have policies against vaccinating children.

“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,” O’Leary said.

According to CDC data, the 2024-2025 flu season has been receding since February, with all 50 states reporting “low or minimal flu activity,” as noted by Medical Xpress.