From Dec. 14-27, Boston saw a 126 percent increase in confirmed flu cases. During the same timeframe, hospitalizations tripled and flu-related emergency department visits increased by 135 percent, Boston public health officials said Tuesday.
Most of the people hospitalized are adults 65 and older. However, hospitalizations among children younger than 5 increased 150 percent in the last two weeks.
“We are very concerned about the severity of illness that we’ve noted amongst children this season,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston’s commissioner of public health, at a Tuesday news conference.
Compared to last year, twice as many children were hospitalized for flu this year, Ojikutu said. This season’s hospitalizations for children younger than 5 have already exceeded last season’s peak hospitalizations.
In total, 29 adults have died from the flu this season, according to state data last updated Dec. 31.
The Boston Public Health Commission urged parents to get their children older than six months vaccinated as soon as possible. The city also announced it was opening six additional vaccination clinics starting with one from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at City Hall. No appointments are needed, officials said.
“It is safe to vaccinate children as soon as they are eligible,” Ojikutu said. “The flu vaccine is safe, effective, and it saves lives.”
The vaccination rate among Boston residents is lagging behind the state — a 32.5 percent rate of vaccination in Boston compared to 34 percent statewide, she said.
“Vaccination rates for the flu are low, and this is a problem, and it’s something that we’re working on,” Ojikutu said.
Ojikutu urged families not to listen to misinformation about the safety of vaccines.
This year’s vaccine is potentially mismatched with the flu strain that is circulating most widely: a variant of influenza A H3N2, known as “subclade K.” But Ojikutu said the shot can still decrease the severity of illness and risk of hospitalization.
Ojikutu urged parents to watch for symptoms such as trouble breathing, persistent fever lasting for several days, extreme weakness or tiredness, confusion, or decreased urination. If they observe those symptoms, she advised parents bring their child into the emergency department for medical attention. Children 2 and younger, and those with underlying illnesses like asthma, lung disease, or obesity, are at a higher risk of complications from the flu.
“Usually the flu presents as a mild illness in children,” Ojikutu said. “However, it can be very dangerous and severe as it was in these two cases.”
As of Dec. 27, nine pediatric flu-related deaths have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across the country. The CDC estimates there have been at least 5,000 deaths from flu this season nationwide, as well as at least 11,000,000 illness and 120,000 hospitalizations.
Last season, there were 470 flu-related deaths in Massachusetts, up from 251 during the 2023-2024 season, according to DPH.
In addition to getting vaccinated, avoiding congregated areas when sick and masking can help prevent the spread of flu, she said.
Individuals at higher risk of complications, including people 2 and younger, and 65 and older, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals and people with chronic illnesses should seek medical care if they develop flu-like symptoms or are exposed to a person with flu. Certain antiviral treatments can be prescribed to help prevent severe illness.
On Monday, the federal Department of Health and Human Services dropped the number of vaccines it recommends for every child from 17 to 11.
“There is no new data that was presented that led to the changes that that the federal administration and HHS made, or any of the decisions that they’ve made,” Ojikutu said. “This is political. It doesn’t feel responsible.”
Ojikutu said parents should instead turn to organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Boston Public Health Commission for guidance.
Katie Muchnick can be reached at katie.muchnick@globe.com.