Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe

CDC: Flu vaccine 55% effective for children, teens

Melissa Jenco, News Content Editor
February 20, 2020

Editor's note:For the latest flu coverage, visit https://www.aappublications.org/collection/influenza.

Flu vaccines have reduced children’s visits to a doctor by 55% this season, according to interim estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccine’s effectiveness was 45% for the overall population.

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect against influenza and its potentially serious complications,” authors wrote in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination while influenza viruses are circulating in the community.”

The interim estimates are based on a study of 4,112 people. The data show for influenza B/Victoria, which was predominant in the early part of the season, the vaccine’s effectiveness is 56% for children ages 6 months through 17 years and 50% for the overall population.

Against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, which has surged in recent weeks, the vaccine is 51% effective for children and 37% for the overall population.

The estimates come as 92 children and teens have died. About two-thirds of the deaths were linked to influenza B viruses. The death toll at this point in the season is higher than at the same time during the past 15 seasons except for the 2009 pandemic, according to the CDC.

Hospitalization rates for children also are higher than usual despite being average for the general population.

Overall, health officials estimate that 26 million people have gotten sick, 250,000 have been hospitalized and 14,000 have died this season.

Outpatient visits for flu have risen for four consecutive weeks. The CDC continues to recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated. Physicians with high-risk patients who have contracted the virus should treat them promptly with antivirals.

Resources
  • AAP policy "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2019-2020"
  • Information from the CDC about flu
  • Information for parents on flu vaccine from HealthyChildren.org
  • AAP News stories on flu
  • Information on flu from the AAP Red Book
Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics

Advertising Disclaimer »

Download PDF
Email News Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
CDC: Flu vaccine 55% effective for children, teens
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
CDC: Flu vaccine 55% effective for children, teens
Melissa Jenco
February 20, 2020
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Digital Edition Current Issue
  • Latest Daily News
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Columns
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe to AAP News Magazine
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • 2021 AAP Journals Catalog
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP Career Center
  • shopAAP
  • AAP.org
  • AAP News
  • Visit AAP News on Facebook
  • Follow AAP News on Twitter
American Academy of Pediatrics

© 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics