Context:

During the 2024-25 influenza season, New York experienced its highest number of pediatric flu deaths in recent years, with 25 children succumbing to the virus amid declining vaccination rates. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 216 pediatric deaths and more than 600,000 hospitalizations due to the flu, marking the highest hospitalization rate in 15 years. Factors contributing to this severe season include a post-COVID rise in vaccine hesitancy and a particularly intense mix of circulating flu strains. In New York, vaccination rates varied significantly, with 75% of children in New York City vaccinated compared to only 50% statewide. Efforts to better identify flu-related deaths have increased New York's reported numbers, while misinformation and distrust in vaccines continue to impact public health efforts.

Dive Deeper:

• The 2024-25 flu season saw 25 pediatric deaths in New York, more than any recent flu season, while the CDC reported 216 pediatric deaths nationwide, expecting the number to rise as the season wanes.

• The flu season was marked by over 47 million infections and 600,000 hospitalizations across the United States, resulting in the highest hospitalization rate in 15 years.

• Post-COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and a potent mix of flu strains are thought to have played a role in the severity of this season's influenza impact.

• In New York, vaccination rates showed disparities, with 75.7% of New York City children vaccinated compared to only 50% statewide, reflecting national trends of declining vaccine uptake.

• Misinformation about vaccines has fueled hesitancy, leading to lower vaccination rates and increased vulnerability to the flu, especially in children.

• The state's health department has improved its methods for identifying flu-related deaths, potentially increasing the number of reported cases in recent years.

• Despite the high number of cases and deaths, some health experts did not perceive this flu season as an extreme outlier, indicating variability in individual experiences of the outbreak.