As we enter the peak of flu season, health officials are urging people to prioritize vaccination, particularly for children. With the holiday getting closer, it’s possible the United States could see a rise in children staying in bed, not just recovering from indulging in the festive season, but battling seasonal illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza cases are gradually increasing nationwide. While the overall number of flu cases remains relatively low, Tennessee is reporting moderately high rates, with certain regions seeing noticeable activity.
Nationally, children aged 0–4 account for more than 10% of outpatient flu-related visits. While Tennessee’s 2024 flu cases (3.8% of the population) are down from the 5% reported during the same week in 2023, this is encouraging. It is also important to remember that the peak of flu season is still ahead. Health experts caution against complacency, as flu activity usually reaches its highest levels between December and February.
Why You Should Get Vaccinated
The bottom line is that no one wants to get sick. The body can only handle so much before it becomes vulnerable to infection. With the influenza virus constantly evolving, we must also update the tools we use to fight it.
Each year, the influenza vaccine is designed to protect against the most prevalent strains of the virus predicted for the upcoming flu season. Researchers worldwide monitor circulating strains and use models to forecast which ones are most likely to spread. The vaccine typically targets three or four strains, covering both influenza A and B viruses.
The influenza vaccine introduces inactivated viruses, weakened live viruses, or specific viral proteins into the body. Getting vaccinated helps your immune system prepare for a potential encounter with the influenza virus. Children’s immune systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable to severe symptoms and complications like pneumonia, sinus infections, or ear infections. These complications cause discomfort and can lead to time off school and activities they enjoy, as well as missed workdays for parents or caregivers.
Getting the vaccine helps children build that barrier that helps avoid high fevers, muscle aches, and fatigue associated with influenza, which can leave kids feeling miserable for days or weeks. As parents, there’s nothing worse than seeing your child sick and feeling like you could have done something to prevent it but now can’t.
Addressing Low Vaccination Rates
Despite all the data available, vaccination rates remain low. In Tennessee and across the U.S., only 37% of children have received the flu shot this season. This is concerning, given how deadly the flu season can be, especially for children.
Thousands of children end up in the hospital due to flu-related complications, and tragically, flu-associated pediatric deaths occur annually. During the 2023–2024 flu season, 200 pediatric flu-related deaths were reported, surpassing the previous high of 199 deaths in the 2019–2020 season. Of these deaths, approximately 80% of children were not fully vaccinated against influenza.
This data paints a clear picture. Low vaccination rates and high transmissibility of influenza can have deadly consequences. It’s important to vaccinate children because they often act as vectors, spreading the virus to other children, who then spread it to families, and it can eventually reach vulnerable populations, including the elderly.
Increasing flu vaccination rates among children is a critical public health priority. Vaccination protects individual children from severe illness and death and contributes to community-wide immunity, reducing the overall burden of influenza and safeguarding those who cannot be vaccinated.
What to Remember This Holiday
As we prepare to gather with loved ones this holiday season, it’s important to understand the risks of the flu. During this busy time — shopping, traveling, and celebrating. The flu doesn’t respect borders or boundaries.
Vaccination is a simple step that can drastically reduce flu transmission and protect everyone around you.
Remember, vaccination isn’t just a personal choice — it’s a shared responsibility.
Sources
Tennessee Department of Health: Weekly Flu Reports
CDC: New Grim Milestone for Flu Pediatric Deaths Set
CDC: Flu Deaths in Children Last Season Reach 199, Matching Record
