Only a Third of U.S. Kids Have Gotten Flu Shots

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 12, 2024.

By India Edwards HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2024 -- Despite a record number of American children dying from the flu last year, the percentage of kids getting their flu shots keeps falling.

In new data posted this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 37% of kids had received the vaccine as of Nov. 30 -- down from 43% at the same time last year.

This decline is raising concerns among pediatricians, who are already seeing an uptick in flu cases this season.

“I always have a little bit of dread when flu season is around the corner,” Dr. Kristina Bryant, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Norton Children’s in Louisville, Ky., told NBC News. “Children experience illness and suffering during flu season, and much of that can be prevented through vaccination.”

For the entirety of the last flu season, just over half of children -- 55% -- received the flu shot, marking the lowest rate in 12 years.

Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team, told NBC News that while flu vaccination rates were slowly increasing before the pandemic, they have not rebounded since.

This year’s flu shot covers the two most common strains of the virus circulating, H1N1 and H3N2. Budd emphasized that any strain of the flu can be dangerous for children.

While the flu shot is not 100% effective, Dr. Michelle Taylor, a pediatrician and health officer in Memphis, stressed its importance.

“Even if you’re exposed and test positive for the flu, the vaccine gives the best chance of having a much easier course of illness than if you hadn’t been vaccinated at all,” Taylor told NBC News.

However, a preliminary report released by the CDC in October suggested the flu shot might be less effective at preventing hospitalizations for children ages 5 and younger this year, with just 39% effectiveness.

Last year, the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations was estimated to be as high as 61%.

Flu season was especially deadly for children last year, with 205 pediatric deaths -- the highest number seen since before the pandemic, the report stated.

However, the CDC estimates that the actual number of flu-related child deaths could be much higher, with 724 potentially occurring.

Experts believe the high death toll last year can be partly attributed to a long flu season and lower vaccination rates.

“Last year was more drawn-out, so unfortunately, there was more opportunity for children to get infected,” Budd said.

The CDC continues to recommend that everyone age six months and older get a flu shot every year.

For most people, a single shot is enough. However, children who have never had a flu shot may need two doses, spaced four weeks apart, to be fully vaccinated.

“It’s another reminder of how important vaccination is,” Budd said. “More than 80% of the reported influenza-associated pediatric deaths last season occurred in children who were eligible for a flu vaccine but weren’t fully vaccinated.”

Sources

  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu report, Dec. 11, 2024
  • NBC News

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-12-13 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords