More than 900 Californians have died of the flu so far this season amid low vaccine rates, state says

More than 900 Californians — including 15 children — person succumbed to the flu this play successful what has turned retired to beryllium 1 of the worst surges of the respiratory unwellness successful years, according to a report released Friday by the California Department of Public Health.

Most of the influenza victims — 701 — were implicit 64 years old, which tracks with the accepted conception that the unwellness disproportionately affects older people.

However, the fig of children who person died has raised concerns. Four much kids died of the flu during the week ending Feb. 15, expanding the seasonal pediatric decease toll by much than a third, according to the report.

With respect to COVID-19, “we conscionable thought astir older adults arsenic getting sick,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-disease specializer and prof of medicine astatine UC San Francisco. “We person to reset with flu. Because with flu, it’s not conscionable the precise old, it’s besides the precise young. And they tin bash precise poorly.”

The 15 children who died of the flu this play includes four teenagers from San Diego. None of the teens — ages 14, 15, 16 and 17 — had received flu shots, according to wellness officials.

“These caller flu deaths among our younker are tragic and concerning arsenic we caput into what historically is the highest of flu season,” Dr. Ankita Kadakia, San Diego County’s interim nationalist wellness officer, said successful a connection this month.

Vaccination rates person declined, peculiarly among children, for the flu and different ailments, according to Chin-Hong.

Nationally, roughly 58% of children betwixt the ages of 6 months and 17 were vaccinated against the flu during the 2020-21 season, declining to astir 45% arsenic of precocious January this year.

“In the satellite of vaccines, that’s similar falling disconnected a cliff,” Chin-Hong said.

The inclination is akin successful California: 47.7% of children person been vaccinated against flu arsenic of precocious January, the lowest since astatine slightest the 2019-20 flu season. Last twelvemonth astatine this time, 53.7% of children were vaccinated against the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months oregon older get a flu changeable — ideally by the extremity of October to boost extortion against the illness during high-circulation wintertime months.

The 2 types of flu mostly circulating present are H1N1 — related to the swine flu strain that caused a flu pandemic successful 2009 and 2010 — and H3N2, which “is notorious for conscionable causing much superior unwellness successful general,” Chin-Hong said previously.

Given however potent this flu play has already proved to be, officials accidental those who person yet to beryllium vaccinated should see doing so.

Although flu enactment remains high, it whitethorn beryllium decreasing. California nationalist wellness officials’ caller study shows a 3.4% diminution successful the complaint astatine which flu tests returned affirmative results astatine the state’s objective sentinel labs for the week ending Feb. 15, the astir caller for which implicit information are available.

Still, the trial positivity complaint sits astatine an elevated 23.3%. COVID-19 and RSV enactment is low, wellness officials said, with positivity rates of 2.3% and 5%, respectively.

Chin-Hong said it’s not yet wide whether the downward inclination volition hold.

“I deliberation it’s excessively aboriginal to celebrate,” helium said, adding that much information points are needed.

Flu play successful the U.S. typically peaks betwixt December and February, though the microorganism spreads year-round, according to the CDC.

Even if it’s connected the decline, the microorganism is known for having a prolonged season, Chin-Hong said. It tin tally done April and sometimes aboriginal successful the year.

“It’s not lone the highest that we’re disquieted about,” Chin-Hong said. “It’s besides the breadth of what’s happening this year.”

There were astir 500 deaths past play owed tothe flu by this constituent successful time, and 600 the twelvemonth before, the Mercury News reported.

Chin-Hong estimates helium hasn’t seen a decease toll similar that of this play successful a decade.

Times unit writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.