Too Many Unvaccinated Children Were Hospitalized Last Flu Season

While the U.S. government recommends most people get an annual flu shot, according to new data, a significant percentage of children and adolescents were unvaccinated last flu season.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on October 13, 2023, that the 2022–23 influenza season had high severity among children and adolescents.

Among children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza during the 2022–23 season in hospitals participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, a lower proportion were vaccinated (18.3%) compared with previous seasons (35.8%–41.8%).

Early influenza circulation, before many children and adolescents had been vaccinated, might have contributed to the high hospitalization rates during the 2022–23 season.

Peak influenza-associated outpatient and hospitalization activity occurred in late November and early December 2022.

Nationally, the incidences of influenza-associated outpatient visits and hospitalization for the 2022–23 season were similar compared with previous seasons.

Last flu season, the CDC reported 178 influenza-associated pediatric fatalities.

The CDC's recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recommends that all persons aged ≥6 months without contraindications should receive the annual influenza vaccine, ideally by the end of October each year.

Similar to last year, nasal, egg-based, and various cell-based vaccines are available at health clinics and pharmacies.

As of October 10, 2023, the CDC reported that 128.35 million flu shots had been distributed in the U.S. for the 2023-2024 flu season. This data compares with 173 million influenza vaccines distributed last season.