This is not a statistic I like to relate to readers of this blog: 101 deaths in children from flu-related causes have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2016-2017–and these are the deaths which have been reported.
There may have been some deaths where causes were not readily discernible or were more complicated, or possibly not diagnosed and not reported as flu-related deaths. Flu shots, according to a recent study, are still the best deterrent to kids getting the flu and bringing it to school or bringing it home from school and spreading the flu. We are now less than two months away from the new school year’s start, and while we don’t offer medical advice in this blog, we encourage parents to get the facts on the flu and consider having their children receive whatever current flu vaccine shots are available when the time comes to help retard the spread of the flu and keep kids and families safe. “CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Influenza vaccination rates among children (6 months to 17 years) have been around 60% for the past several seasons.” 1
According to the CDC, during the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 flu seasons, the Influenza A (H3N2) virus predominated. That strain of the virus is generally associated with more difficult outcomes in children and the elderly. A recent CDC study (published in Pediatrics) has confirmed that flu vaccine can prevent flu-related deaths in children and “can reduce the risk…by 51%” 2
This is impressive and makes it a no-brainer for me that it’s important to get a shot and be protected.
___________________
1 https://www.CDC.gov/flu/news/reported-flu-deaths-children.htm,
June 23, 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD),
1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA
30329-4027 USA
2 Ibid.
