Public health officials are sounding the alarm after the 2024-’25 influenza season tied a somber record for pediatric flu fatalities, coinciding with the confirmation of the first child death in the current flu season, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The final tally for last season reached 288 deaths, matching the number recorded during the devastating 2009-’10 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic. This total stands higher than any other regular flu season since the CDC began systematic tracking in 2004, underscoring the severity of the circulating strains. Alarmingly, last season’s fatalities included at least 21 children who suffered from a rare, yet severe, neurological complication linked to influenza.

The current season has already reported its first pediatric death, which occurred in late November and was associated with influenza A. Across the country, flu activity is intensifying in most states, reaching very high levels in New York City and high levels in states including Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York state. The cumulative hospitalization rate across all ages, tracked by the CDC surveillance network, sits at 6.9 per 100,000 people, marking the third-highest rate seen at this point in the season since 2010-’11. While older adults generally have the highest hospitalization rates, children under the age of five are experiencing the second-highest rate, recorded at 19.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Overall, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 2.9 million illnesses, 30,000 hospitalizations, and 1,200 deaths across all age groups from the flu so far this season.

The circulating strains present a challenge this year, as Influenza A (H3N2) viruses are the most frequently reported. The CDC identified a new influenza A(H3N2) subclade in August that appears to have drifted genetically from the H3N2 component included in the seasonal vaccine. Testing performed by the CDC on 163 H3N2 viruses since late September found that 89% belonged to this new drifted subclade. While a drifted virus may potentially reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness against infection, the CDC maintains that the vaccine still offers essential protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and also provides defense against other circulating flu strains.

Against this backdrop of heightened viral threat, pediatric vaccination rates are lagging, potentially exacerbating existing health equity concerns. Data from the CDC indicates that only 38% of children have been vaccinated so far this season, which represents a decline from the 40% uptake recorded at this time last year. This shortfall in vaccination coverage is particularly concerning for communities of color, who often face systemic barriers to healthcare access, including limited time off work for appointments and proximity to vaccination sites, leading to disproportionate rates of severe illness and hospitalization during intense flu seasons. Public health experts continually stress that consistent access to preventive care, such as the influenza vaccine, is a critical step in addressing these pervasive health disparities. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends that every person 6 months of age and older receive the flu vaccination.

As the severity of the flu season mounts and hospitalization rates remain high, especially among young children, maximizing immunization remains the most reliable strategy to prevent severe outcomes. The record pediatric losses from the previous year serve as a stark reminder of the virus’s potential danger, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and equitable vaccine distribution to safeguard all vulnerable populations throughout the winter months.