For nearly two weeks, Rondi Bishop, a 40-year-old mother, faced unimaginable fear and uncertainty as she and her husband quarantined in a room at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Their son, Elliot, who had always been a healthy and active child, suddenly fell gravely ill. The unexpected turn of events began when Elliot had to be airlifted to the hospital, where he received treatment for severe complications from the flu, including sepsis, renal issues, and acute breathing difficulties. Rondi vividly recalls the horror and panic she felt when her son experienced cardiac arrest. “This flu season was life-changing for us,” she shared. “It was terrifying to see him connected to so many machines; at one point, there were 11 different IVs keeping him alive.”
After falling ill in January, Elliot is now home and recovering well, but his story is far from unique. Families across the United States are grappling with one of the worst flu seasons in recent years, particularly affecting children. Reports indicate a sharp increase in pediatric flu cases, with hospitals witnessing severe complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, and in some cases, organ failure. Specifically, hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 17 surged by an alarming 145 percent, escalating from 959 cases on January 4 to 2,348 by February 1, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Though national flu levels remain high, there has been a slight decline over the past two weeks. Concurrently, cases of coronavirus are also decreasing but still persist in various regions, according to federal health data. Tragically, at least 86 children had died from the flu as of February 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that between October 1 and February 14, approximately 430,000 children and adults were hospitalized due to the flu, with expectations that these numbers could rise as the flu season continues.
Anita K. Patel, a pediatric critical-care physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., described this flu season as the worst she has encountered in over a decade. While most children recover from the flu, some may experience long-term effects that are often overlooked. “Death is obviously the most severe outcome, but there is a broad spectrum of health impacts,” Patel noted. “The flu can take a previously healthy child and put them on a ventilator.” She emphasizes that early symptoms, such as dehydration or difficulty breathing, should not be dismissed, as they may signal a more serious infection. Patel cautions that while cases in her hospital have begun to decline, the tail end of this flu season could extend for several more months.
Despite public health recommendations, flu vaccination rates among children have been decreasing in recent years. A surge of misinformation, distrust, and the misconception that the flu is not a serious illness have contributed to this hesitancy among parents. Pediatricians warn that lower vaccination rates can lead to more severe outbreaks, putting both vaccinated and unvaccinated children at risk for complications and hospitalization. This year, only 46 percent of children received a flu vaccine, down from 51 percent at the same time last season, according to the CDC.
The decline in vaccination rates has been exacerbated by the influence of public figures, including anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was appointed as the nation’s top health leader in February. Shortly after his appointment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) canceled a crucial vaccine meeting that typically guides the formulation of the next winter’s flu vaccine. Public health experts have expressed concern that Kennedy's stance promotes a climate of fear surrounding vaccine safety, leading many parents to avoid vaccinating their children, which could worsen flu infection rates.
“The cancellation of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting is alarming. We are in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons in years, and children are being hospitalized at concerning rates,” stated Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although the flu vaccine may not completely prevent infection, experts assert that it can significantly lower the risk of developing severe symptoms or needing hospitalization. However, flu vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, and this season's vaccine may not have matched well with the most prevalent strains.
On average, the flu vaccine is about 50 percent effective annually. Despite Elliot’s hospitalization, Rondi Bishop stated she would not choose to vaccinate her family against the flu in the future. “We have NEVER done flu shots and have been fine,” she communicated in a text to The Washington Post.
Joelle Classen from Caldwell, New Jersey, experienced a terrifying situation when her two young sons both developed high fevers and severe vomiting. She insisted that the medical staff test them for everything due to their alarming symptoms. After both boys were diagnosed with the flu, her 5-year-old required hospitalization to monitor his vital signs after becoming severely dehydrated. Classen shared, “I feel like the flu vaccine is a gamble,” reflecting on her decision not to vaccinate her children.
Preliminary findings from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicate that children and teens who received a flu shot were up to 60 percent less likely to seek medical attention for flu-related illness and up to 78 percent less likely to be hospitalized. The report highlighted that about 13 percent of children who died from this year's seasonal flu had developed influenza-associated encephalitis, a rare but serious neurological complication. The CDC recommends that all children over 6 months of age receive an annual flu shot.
“If you have had the flu vaccine, your body is better equipped to combat the infection more effectively, regardless of the vaccine’s effectiveness,” explained Jennifer L. Brull, a family physician in Fort Collins, Colorado, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She noted that while flu cases tend to spike early in the year, the severity of this season's surge is particularly concerning. “This is not a year like any we have seen before. It’s certainly not like last year, and that is alarming,” Brull concluded.
