Flu Deaths in Children Last Season Reach 199, Matching Record

September 13, 2024 - CDC reported two new flu-related deaths in children last week, bringing the total for the 2023-2024 season to 199. Any number of pediatric deaths is a deeply tragic reminder that influenza can cause severe illness, and the number of deaths reported so far this season equals the previous high of 199 reported during the 2019-2020 season.

Of the 158 children who were eligible for a flu vaccine and for whom 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. September and October are good times to be vaccinated.

Getting your child 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. Estimates show that flu vaccination last season reduced the risk of flu medical visits by about two-thirds and flu-related hospitalization by about half for vaccinated children.

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.

Among influenza-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 medical 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%) pediatric 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. 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 number of seasonal influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported each season since the system began 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.