Flu vaccine in children reduces their visits to the emergency room: CDC
A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases reveals that the flu vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of flu-associated emergency department visits, urgent care, and hospitalizations in children and adolescents during the 2022-2023 season.
According to data obtained from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness (EV) Network, a joint initiative of the CDC, Westat, and various clinical and vaccination centers in the United States, vaccination decreased these risks by an impressive 40-48%.
The 2022-2023 influenza season saw the highest rates of hospitalizations in children since the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. Vaccination coverage in this age category was approximately 6% below the pre-pandemic level, which could have contributed to high hospitalization rates.
Additionally, last year’s flu season started unusually early, meaning many children who contracted the disease did not have the opportunity to receive the vaccine.
Strong recommendations from clinicians and healthcare providers can play a crucial role in parents’ decision-making regarding the vaccination of their children.
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Annual flu vaccination not only reduces the risk of illness but also helps avoid serious complications. Children under 5 years old, especially those under 2 years old, as well as those with chronic conditions, are at increased risk for serious flu-related complications.
Asthma and obesity can make the flu worse in children
During the 2022-2023 season, 66% of children hospitalized with influenza had at least one underlying condition, such as asthma, neurological disease, obesity, or a weakened immune system.
These data underline the importance of vaccination since even if a child becomes ill with influenza after being vaccinated, the severity of the illness can be significantly reduced.
Influenza seriously affects the health of children in all seasons in the United States. During the 2022-2023 season, more than 12 million influenza virus infections were recorded in children, with almost seven million medical consultations associated with the disease. Additionally, it is estimated that around 50,000 children were hospitalized due to the flu that season.
Although the flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%, parents play an essential role in vaccinating their children, not only to prevent illness but also to mitigate the risk. severity if contracted. Annual vaccination is key, and parents can find information about where to get the vaccine at vaccines.gov.
The VISION network, a joint project of CDC, Westat, and various partners, has been instrumental in collecting data on medical visits related to acute respiratory illnesses in various care settings.
The collaboration between these entities has allowed a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in preventing moderate to severe forms of these diseases.
In a statement, the CDC reiterated the importance of annual flu vaccination for everyone over 6 months of age and highlighted that, despite low flu activity at this time, it is a good time to receive the vaccine.
