Pediatric Flu Deaths

Now that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr‘s CDC has made getting your kids a yearly flu vaccine more confusing, let’s take a look at pediatric flu deaths.

After all, it is well known that nearly all of the kids who die with the flu are unvaccinated!

Wait, did you know that?

Pediatric Flu Deaths

You should also know that dying with the flu is not rare…

On average, about 130 kids in the United States die with the flu each year.

Of course, there was nothing average about last year’s flu season, when 289 kids died!

And this year?

During the 2025-26 flu season, there have been many media reports of pediatric flu deaths, including:

• an unvaccinated child in Kenton County, Kentucky, died with the flu (Dec 2025)
• a child in Sacramento County, California, with no underlying health problems died with the flu (Dec 2025)
• an unvaccinated teen in San Mateo County, California, died with the flu (Dec 2025)
• a previously healthy unvaccinated teen in Ohio died with the flu (Jan 2026)
• an unvaccinated two-year-old in New Jersey with no previous medical problems who died after developing a high fever and seizures (Jan 2026)
• a previously healthy 4-year-old in Utah died with the flu (Jan 2026)
• a preschool aged child in Virginia died with the flu (Jan 2026)
• a school-age teenager in Snohomish County, Washington died with the flu (Jan 2026)

And unfortunately, flu season is far from over.

What to Know about Pediatric Flu Deaths

In addition to knowing that these flu deaths are not rare, you should know that these are:

• almost always unvaccinated kids who are dying with the flu
• often kids without any underlying medical conditions that might put them at high risk for complications from the flu

These are very often previously healthy kids who are unvaccinated when they died with the flu!

So get vaccinated – it is not too late.

More on Flu Deaths in Kids

• I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in Flu Shots
• The History of Flu Vaccine Recommendations
• What to Do If Your Child Is Exposed to the Flu
• What Are the Side Effects of the Flu Vaccine?
• Cleveland Clinic Study on Flu Vaccine Effectiveness
• Timing Your Flu Shot: The Science Behind When to Get Vaccinated
• Current flu vaccine provides moderate protection against severe disease, interim analyses suggest
• Myths and Facts About Influenza (Flu)

Last Updated on February 11, 2026