CDC Study Shows Flu Vaccine Reduces Risk of Death in Children

A new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that during the years 2010 through 2014, the influenza vaccine reduced the risk of flu-associated death by half among children with underlying high-risk medical conditions and by nearly two-thirds among healthy children. During those four flu seasons, 358 children died from laboratory-confirmed flu. Of the 291 deaths with known vaccination status, only one in four children (26 percent) had been vaccinated. Deaths were reported from 43 states, New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and included children aged 6 months through 17 years.

Since the 2004-2005 season, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons ranged from 37 (during 2011-2012) to 171 (during 2012- 2013) depending on the severity of the season. In this current flu season, 61 children have reportedly died from the flu as of March 25, according to CDC. “Every year, CDC receives reports of children who died from the flu,” said Brendan Flannery, PhD, lead author and epidemiologist in the CDC influenza division. “This study tells us that we can prevent more of these deaths by vaccinating more.”