Record-setting 105 US children have died from flu this season

February 26, 2020

This article appeared in Fox 47. Read more here.

Over 100 children have died from the flu so far this season, breaking a record set in 2009, according to a report.

CNN reports the 105 child flu deaths are the most at this point in the season since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control started keeping records in 2004, outside of the 2009 flu pandemic.

Doctors told CNN this has been an unusual flu season with a higher rate of children and young adults affected than the older population.

Both an earlier prevalence of influenza B and more H1N1 cases may be factors in the uptick of child cases, according to experts. However, the deaths could also be attributed to a particularly severe flu season.

This year’s flu vaccine is considered to be effective in protecting against the illness by health experts. The CDC said the vaccine has been more than 50% effective in preventing children from getting a severe enough illness to go to a doctor’s office.

Flu vaccines are “substantial protection” for kids ages 6 months to 17 years old, according to the CDC.

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Recommended Immunization Schedules

These schedules list the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If your child (birth through 6 years old) or adolescent (age 7 through 18 years old) has missed any shots, talk to your child’s doctor about getting back on track.

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Vaccine Schedule Based On Your Child’s Birthday
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There are things you can do before, during and after your child’s appointment to make them easier and less stressful for both of you.
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Mobile app from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia created a free mobile app called Vaccines on the Go: What You Should Know so you can access credible, science-based information from wherever and whenever you need it.

Find your local Michigan public health department or immunization clinic
See the directory of Michigan’s 45 local public health departments for more information on your child’s immunization record and where to get them vaccinated.

Other Vaccination Organizations & Advocates

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia provides complete, up-to-date and reliable information about vaccines to parents and healthcare professionals.

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Stories of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases is a collection of stories from people who have been touched by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Voices for Vaccines
Voices for Vaccines is a parent-led organization that supports and advocates for on-time vaccination and the reduction of vaccine-preventable disease.

Seattle Mama Doc: A Blog by Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson
Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson is a practicing pediatrician and the mother of two young boys. She practices at The Everett Clinic in Mill Creek, Washington, is on the medical staff at Seattle Children’s and is a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.

Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases
PKIDs’ mission is to educate the public about infectious diseases, the methods of prevention and transmission, the latest advances in medicine, and the elimination of social stigma borne by the infected; and to assist the families of the children living with hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, or other chronic, viral infectious diseases with emotional, financial and informational support.

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Record-setting 105 US children have died from flu this season

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