ATLANTA — A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researcher reported new findings on influenza vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. Brendan Flannery, PhD, of the CDC, reported that influenza vaccines averaged 80% effectiveness in preventing pediatric deaths from August 2016 through July 2025.

The study found vaccine effectiveness against death was 77% among children with underlying medical conditions. For children without underlying medical conditions, vaccine effectiveness against death was 87%. Over the full study period, 1,234 laboratory-confirmed pediatric flu deaths were reported.

Pediatric influenza fatalities in the 2024-2025 flu season reached their highest number since this metric began being tracked. "While rare, influenza-associated pediatric deaths occur annually with varying incidence depending upon the influenza season," Flannery said. Children younger than 5 years and those with certain underlying medical conditions face an increased risk of hospitalization and complications from the flu. These conditions include neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, and genetic disorders.

Adam Ratner, a physician, emphasized the need for pediatricians to shift parental expectations regarding the influenza vaccine. "As pediatricians, we need to shift parental expectations of the influenza vaccine from preventing all cases of influenza infection to protecting against severe disease and the tragedy of influenza-associated child mortality," Ratner said. Ratner also said, "The maintenance of public health infrastructure, including active surveillance and vaccine registries, is essential for accurate analysis of vaccine effectiveness and determining where vaccine advocacy efforts are needed."

Children without known underlying conditions constitute approximately half of all influenza-associated pediatric deaths. Among 1,086 pediatric flu deaths with data on influenza vaccination, 23% of children with underlying medical conditions and 13% of children without underlying conditions were fully vaccinated. Average influenza vaccination coverage in survey cohorts for the study was 49%.

The effectiveness rates for children with underlying medical conditions ranged from 66% during the 2019-2020 season to 84% in the 2024-2025 season. For children without underlying conditions, vaccine effectiveness against death ranged from 77% in the 2022-2023 season to 95% in the 2024-2025 season. U.S. influenza vaccination rates have declined since 2021. The study utilized publicly available data from the National Immunization Survey -- Flu and the National Health Interview Survey.