THE WASHINGTON POST – At least 216 children died of influenza in the United States this past flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, the disease’s highest pediatric death toll in about 15 years.
In New York, health authorities on Wednesday warned of the dangers of vaccine misinformation as the state announced its highest pediatric death toll on record for any flu season, with 25 children succumbing to the virus or influenza-related diseases.
“Misinformation around vaccines has in recent years contributed to a rise in vaccine hesitancy and declining vaccination rates,” New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said in a news release.
“Vaccines are the best protection we have, and do save lives, including the lives of very young children who are too young to receive certain vaccines.”
Only one of the 25 children who died in New York was vaccinated, McDonald said. Five of the children were too young to receive the vaccine.
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This season marks the highest death toll since the 2009-2010 season, when 288 children died, according to the American Hospital Association.
The CDC recommends that people older than 6 months get the influenza vaccine every flu season …