With children back in school, the best way to keep them healthy and involved in academics and the extracurricular activities they love is to prevent illness such as the flu whenever possible.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released its 2024-25 recommendations for influenza prevention, calling for everyone age 6 months and older who is eligible to receive the annual vaccination. The policy statement, "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2024-2025" and an accompanying technical report will be published in the October 2024
Pediatrics.
A rise in flu-related deaths among children
While influenza vaccinations dropped last season, pediatric deaths related to flu rose to 193—the highest level since the 2019-20 flu season. It is the highest death toll among children and adolescents since the 2019-'20 season, which saw 199 deaths.
"A lot of the suffering we saw last year could have been prevented or at least lessened in severity by immunizing more kids with influenza vaccine," said Kristina A. Bryant, M.D., FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) and lead author of the flu policy statement and technical report.
Influenza vaccines in the U.S. will be trivalent this season, meaning they are designed to prevent against three different strains of flu viruses. While the vaccine does not always prevent influenza, those who are vaccinated are less likely to experience severe illness.
Just 54% of children and adolescents were vaccinated last season, down from 62% in the 2019-'20 season, according to
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Coverage last season was lowest for Black children at 49% compared to 51% of white children, 60% of Hispanic children and 59% of children identified as other race/ethnicity. Children living in rural areas also have significantly lower vaccination rates than those in urban or suburban areas.
"Each year, thousands of kids are hospitalized with influenza and its complications, but even mild cases of flu can cause children to miss days of school and activities that are important to them," Dr. Bryant said. "Ask your pediatrician if you have any questions about how the influenza vaccine can protect your child and siblings who are too young to receive a vaccine this season."
AAP flu recommendations include:
- Everyone age 6 months and older without medical contraindications be immunized with flu vaccine during the 2024-25 flu season, preferably by Oct. 31.
- The number of doses depends on the child's age at first dose administration and influenza vaccination history. Children 6 months through 8 years of age who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who received only 1 dose prior to July 1,2024, or whose vaccination status is unknown should receive 2 doses of influenza vaccine at least 4 weeks apart. All other children should receive 1 dose this season.
- Influenza vaccine should be offered to children as soon as it becomes available, especially to those recommended to receive 2 doses, for best protection.
- Influenza vaccination is safe for the breastfeeding parent and infant.
Policy statements and technical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.
More information