Summary
Flu vaccination rates among U.S. children have dropped to their lowest point in 12 years, with only 37% vaccinated as of late November, down from 43% last year.
This decline follows a record 205 pediatric flu deaths in the 2023-24 season, though the CDC estimates the actual number could be much higher.
Experts emphasize the importance of flu shots, which reduce the severity of illness even if they don’t fully prevent infection.
The CDC urges annual vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older to mitigate risks, especially for children.
I’m about to fly to the other coast, and it’s shit like this that makes me pretty sure I’ll never fly maskless again. The one time I got Covid was right after returning from a long flight, but I guess I can’t trust anyone to give a shit about any respiratory virus.
Vaccinate your goddamn kids. It’s not supposed to be fun. But sometime we do things that aren’t fun, because they save millions of goddamn lives. People are so fucking selfish.