In addition, despite advice against large government agencies and pediatricians, two-thirds of parents do not consider it more important to take a flu shot for their child this year.
“Children under the age of 5 – especially those under the age of 2 – are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications,” said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For – more important than before.
“We can see the peaks of the flu and Covid-19 at the same time, which could strip the health care system, potentially reducing our ability to effectively catch and treat stress and respiratory illnesses,” said colleague Sarah Clark. In a statement, the director of the poll conducted by Michigan Medicine, CS Mott Children’s Hospital.
Speaking during a Citizen by CNN Conference Conference on Tuesday, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fawcett emphasized the importance of having a flu shot once again this year.
CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. “You should get it after the end of October,” Sanjay Gupta told the mediator. “If it’s available now, you should get it now.”
“Don’t wait any longer than October.”
The flu is fatal
Children die from the flu every year – there were 188 deaths from pediatric flu during the 2019-2020 flu season last year. According to the CDC, it is just the tip of the iceberg, as many deaths from the flu have not been reported.
For example, an equal number of children – 188 – died from the flu during 2017-2018, but based on statistical modeling, the CDC estimates that 600 children died.
The illness caused by influenza is more serious than the common cold, the CDC warns, as many children need to be hospitalized. In the United States, 7,000 to 26,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized each year with a flu-related illness.
- Inflammation of the brain, called encephalopathy
- Dehydration, where the child loses too much water and salt, can be fatal
- Pneumonia, which kills one child every 39 seconds worldwide, according to UNICEF
- To worsen existing medical problems such as asthma or heart disease
- Increasing incidence of ear infections and sinus problems
“At the same time we can see the peaks of the flu and Covid-19, which could strip the health care system, potentially reducing our ability to effectively catch and treat stress and respiratory illnesses,” Clark said.
AAP figures show 74,553 new cases of Covid-19 in children between September 3 and 17 – a 15% increase in just two weeks – out of a total of 587,948 cases of coronavirus in children in the United States, AAP figures show.
Beware of vaccines
Families who did not vaccinate their children against the flu last year also planned to vaccinate their children this year. Those parents expressed concern about the flu vaccine side effects or said they believed the flu shot was not necessary or effective.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about the flu vaccine, but it’s the best defense for children against the serious health consequences of influenza and the risk of spreading it to others,” Clark said.
In comparison, 96% of parents who received a flu shot for their child in 2019 said their goal was the same this year.
“A major challenge for public health officials is how to reach out to parents who do not regularly receive the seasonal flu vaccine for their child.” “While there is no pattern to getting the annual flu vaccine, parents are asked to think about why their child needs to be vaccinated.”
About 14% of parents said they kept their child away from the doctor’s office fees for fear of catching Covid-19. However, Clark said most healthcare professionals have implemented safety procedures.
“Parents who are concerned about COVID exposure should contact their child’s provider to find out what precautions have been taken,” he said in a statement.
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