LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed the first influenza related children’s death in Michigan for this flu season.
The reported death involves a child who contracted Influenza A(H1N1). Nationally, there have been at least 93 influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported this flu season.
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“These are tragedies that no family should ever have to endure,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive in a statement. “Each year influenza claims the lives of dozens of children across the United States. This is why MDHHS continues to strongly recommend that everyone six months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. It’s the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick and reduce illness severity if someone does get the flu.”
How many Michigan residents have received their flu vaccine?
Just over 25% of Michigan residents have been vaccinated against the flu during the 2023-2024 flu season. Vaccinations for children ages six months through 17 years are down slightly for this flu season at 19.2% compared to the 20.9% who were vaccinated in the 2022-2023 flu season.
Current cases and trajectory.
Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that since October, nationally there have been between 28 to 51 million flu illnesses, 13 to 24 million flu medical visits, and between 310,000 and 640,000 hospitalizations. Of those flu cases, between 20,000 and 57,000 deaths have occurred nationally.
The MDHHS is encouraging residents to get flu vaccinations for children after they have reached six months of age, and that they obtain two doses of the flu vaccine for their first series.
“Michigan’s goal is to vaccinate 4 million residents during the 2023-2024 flu season,” according to the MDHHS, “As of Feb 24, 2024, there have been 2,823,918 doses administered (73.7% towards goal) for the 2023-2024 flu season.”
Some resources for finding health care providers or other places to obtain vaccines, the MDHHS recommends visiting here.
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What are the higher-risk groups and cases?
While the MDHHS did not indicate the age or comorbidities of the state’s first pediatric death, it does encourage people to follow the CDC’s vaccination recommendations for specific higher risk groups, which on the pediatric side includes young children and children with neurologic conditions. Other high risk groups include those with asthma, people afflicted with heart disease or strokes, diabetics, people with HIV/AIDS, and others.
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