Fewer vaccinated children have died from flu-related complications compared to those who did not get a flu shot, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A new CDC study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics concluded that vaccines help prevent flu-related deaths among children and teenagers.
The research found that a majority of the 358 children who died from the flu between 2010 and 2014 did not receive a flu vaccine, and, while some children are in high-risk categories because of asthma or other disorders, half of those who died were considered healthy before they got the flu.
"Every year CDC receives reports of children who died from the flu. This study tells us that we can prevent more of these deaths by vaccinating more," lead author and CDC epidemiologist Brendan Flannery said in a news release.
“We looked at four seasons when we know from other studies that the vaccine prevented flu illness, and we found consistent protection against flu deaths in children.”
The CDC said all children should get a flu vaccine, but the agency said the shot is essential for children with “underlying medical conditions,” like asthma and developmental disorders.
More than 60 children have died from the flu so far this season.
About the Author
