Influenza is increasing across the U.S.; 13 children have died this season; keep vaccinating your patients

CDC

CDC stated in its Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, that as of the week ending December 29, influenza activity was increasing in the U.S. Two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 52, for a total of 13 influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported for the 2018–2019 season. At this time, hospitalization rates in children younger than 5 years old (14.5 per 100,000) are the highest among all age groups. Last season, there was a record-setting number of pediatric deaths in the U.S. (172), so be sure to protect all your patients for whom vaccination is recommended.

Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. If you don’t provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to a clinic or pharmacy that provides vaccines or to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplaces or homes that offer influenza vaccination services.