"Officials are urging doctors to vaccinate their patients and provide flu antivirals after deaths among children reached record highs and as a concerning mutation of the virus circulates in the US. Influenza activity is increasing in the US. The time to get vaccinated for this season is now, Timothy Uyeki, the chief medical officer of the influenza division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a call with clinicians last week."
"The message comes amid diminishing access to and flourishing rumors about vaccines under Robert F Kennedy Jr, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who has made false claims about the ineffectiveness of flu vaccines and overseen limitations on routine vaccines. After a year of dramatic cuts to staff and programs at health agencies, CDC officials highlighted the need to continue monitoring variants such as the H3N2 virus subclade K currently the top strain in the US as flu season unfolds."
"A child died of the flu in the week ending 22 November, marking the first known pediatric death this season, the CDC reported earlier this month. The CDC also reported another child death from flu during last year's season, bringing the total to 288 the deadliest pediatric flu season on record outside of a pandemic. Last year, there were an estimated 610,000 to 1.3 million hospitalizations from influenza in the US."
Influenza activity in the United States is increasing, driven by the H3N2 virus subclade K currently the top circulating strain. Health officials urge immediate vaccination and prompt use of flu antivirals to reduce severe outcomes. Pediatric flu deaths reached record levels last season with 288 deaths and a range of 610,000 to 1.3 million estimated hospitalizations, and a pediatric death has already been reported this season. Concerns include diminished vaccine access, misinformation promoted by HHS leadership, and cuts to public health staffing, prompting continued surveillance and monitoring of variants. The CDC advised using flu vaccines without thimerosal.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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