This winter’s flu season, noted as one of the harshest in the past 15 years, has prompted federal health officials to explore a potential link to an increase in rare, severe brain complications in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an estimated 19,000 fatalities from the flu thus far, including 86 pediatric deaths. Of those, at least nine children are believed to have experienced serious neurological complications, prompting the CDC to call upon state health departments for additional case investigations.
Despite the grim circumstances, there is a silver lining. The CDC has announced that this year’s flu vaccines have effectively reduced the risk of hospitalization due to the flu for the 45% of Americans who received the vaccine. However, uncertainty lingers as the Trump administration recently canceled a key advisory meeting meant to determine the formula for next winter’s flu vaccine.
Dr. Sean O’Leary from the American Academy of Pediatrics urges those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so, as flu activity remains widespread across the nation. The effectiveness of the flu shot varies annually, but its primary purpose is to prevent severe illness and fatalities rather than minor infections, explains Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccine expert at Vanderbilt University.
Preliminary data from the CDC indicate that vaccinated children were 64% to 78% less likely to be hospitalized compared to their unvaccinated peers, with similar results for adults showing a 41% to 55% reduction.
Concerning the brain complications, health departments and hospitals have warned doctors to be alert for flu patients displaying seizures, hallucinations, or signs of “influenza-associated encephalopathy or encephalitis,” as well as the more severe “acute necrotizing encephalopathy.” This inflammation of the brain could lead to further complications in survivors.
The CDC’s analysis of 1,840 child flu deaths since 2010 identified 166 cases with neurological complications, most of whom were unvaccinated. However, it remains uncertain whether this year’s nine cases signify an increased trend.
Tracking these neurologic complications isn’t routine, presenting difficulties in deriving conclusive findings. Dr. Keith Van Haren from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health mentioned being aware of approximately 15 severe subtype cases across the nation, though detailed statistics on fatalities remain unspecified.
Although rare, parents should remain vigilant and consult medical professionals if their child displays unusual flu symptoms such as difficulty breathing, advises O’Leary.
As flu vaccine production for the upcoming season begins, the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to cancel a meeting aimed at determining the flu strains for next year’s vaccines poses questions about how decisions will be made. O’Leary stresses the importance of maintaining transparency in vaccine-related decision-making processes.
Andrew Nixon from the Department of Health and Human Services reassures that the FDA will publicly release its recommendations in time for manufacturing vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season.
