Looking out for your family’s health is a full-time job, especially during influenza (flu) season.
The flu isn’t just a “bad cold” and it’s not only a danger to the elderly. While the flu is most dangerous to some groups, including people 65 years of age and older, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, and people with some health conditions, anyone can get and die from the flu – even people who are otherwise healthy.
Dr. Luis Romano
U.S. Medical Affairs Lead, GSK
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 199 children died from flu-related complications during the 2023-2024 flu season,” noted Dr. Luis Romano, U.S. medical affairs lead at GSK. “A worrying statistic is that in past seasons, about 80% of the children who died from the flu had not been vaccinated.”
We possess a powerful tool to fight this disease: flu vaccines. The CDC estimates that last flu season, influenza vaccination prevented more than 6 million people from becoming ill. And yet flu vaccination rates in children have dropped alarmingly in recent years, from 62% in the 2019-20 season to just 53% this past flu season.
Impact of the flu
Dr. Romano says there are several factors contributing to declining vaccination rates. “Misinformation and disinformation about vaccines, challenges in accessing healthcare, vaccine fatigue, and a general decline in public trust in vaccines have all contributed to this drop,” he explained. “But lower vaccination rates leave children more vulnerable to flu and other preventable diseases.”
Influenza is a very contagious disease, and people can spread the flu one day before they have any symptoms and up to 7 days after symptoms start. That means everyone in your home is potentially at risk, which is especially concerning for those older than 65 years of age, pregnant women, children younger than 5 years of age, and people with certain health conditions. These groups often have more severe cases of influenza and worse outcomes. A “normal” case of the flu can last a week or longer and cause symptoms including fever and chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea in children.
Even a mild case of the flu disrupts your life. It means days off from school and work, potential loss of income, higher healthcare costs, and the risk of spreading the disease. Symptoms can persist for up to two weeks in some cases, which can put a strain on any family, especially if the disease ripples through the household in stages.
There’s a very simple solution to help avoid these risks: vaccination.
Getting vaccinated
Help to protect everyone six months and older in your family by making sure to prioritize flu vaccination this year. The CDC recommends that most people be vaccinated by the end of October each year, and keep in mind that some children may require two doses at least 4 weeks apart. If you miss that deadline, it’s still worth getting vaccinated because typically, flu season doesn’t peak until February and can continue circulating until May.
Vaccination is quick and easy, and can be done at neighborhood pharmacies or doctors’ offices. Flu vaccines cannot give you the flu. Flu shots are made with viruses that have either been killed (inactivated) or weakened (attenuated) and are therefore not infectious. Some flu vaccines are made with parts of the flu virus, which are unable to cause the flu.
Declining flu vaccination rates endanger not just your family, but everyone’s family. “When more people get vaccinated, it helps prevent the spread of the flu to those who are most at risk,” Dr. Romano noted. “Vaccination is not just about individual protection; it’s about safeguarding the health of our entire community.”
To learn more about the flu and how you can help to prevent it, visit the CDC’s ‘About Flu’ page
