According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this flu season saw over 27,000 deaths and more than 200 child deaths across the U.S. It's the worst flu season the country has seen in 15 years.  

“It is estimated that we've had 47 million cases of influenza, over 600,000 hospitalizations, and 27,000 deaths,” said Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious disease for the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine. 

What You Need To Know

  • This flu season had over 27,000 deaths and more than 200 child deaths across the country

  • Twenty five out of the 226 child flu deaths were children in New York state, making up over 10% of deaths this season

  • New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald noted that of the 25 children who died from the flu in New York, only one of them was vaccinated

This flu season is not only taking more lives than it has in over a decade, but causing more child fatalities. Health experts say over 10% of those deaths occurred in New York state, which is home to less than 6% of children in the nation.  

“Sadly, of those deaths, 226 have been deaths in children and 25 of those have been in New York state,” Russo said.

This is the highest recorded number in state history.  

New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald noted that of the 25 children who died from the flu in New York, only one of them was vaccinated and five others were too young to be vaccinated. 

“Unfortunately, this season, vaccination rates were down, which almost certainly contributed to the increased number of cases and bad outcomes,” said Russo. “Although we'd like to believe our children are bulletproof from infections, influenza in general, they are at risk for getting severe infection and having a bad outcome.”

Health experts say they think the increase in flu cases comes as an aftermath of the pandemic.  

“Overall, our population immunity was probably decreased because of the pandemic," Russo said. "During the pandemic, there was less flu around, less exposure and a result of population overall was more susceptible."

They say that with vaccination rates down, the best way of protecting children from the flu is get the rates back up.  

“Although our influenza vaccination is imperfect, it significantly decreases the likelihood if you do get infected. Developing severe disease and end up in hospital and having a bad outcome.”

McDonald reminds families that kids need to be at least 6 months old to receive a flu shot, and says this is the best protection for them.