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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very concerned about the severity of illness that we\u2019ve noted amongst children this season,\u201d said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston\u2019s commissioner of public health, at a Tuesday news conference.<\/p>\n
Compared to last year, twice as many children were hospitalized for flu this year, Ojikutu said. This season\u2019s hospitalizations for children younger than 5 have already exceeded last season\u2019s peak hospitalizations.<\/p>\n
In total, 29 adults<\/a> have died from the flu this season, according to state data last updated Dec. 31.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is safe to vaccinate children as soon as they are eligible,\u201d Ojikutu said. \u201cThe flu vaccine is safe, effective, and it saves lives.\u201d<\/p>\n The vaccination rate among Boston residents is lagging behind the state \u2014 a 32.5 percent rate of vaccination in Boston compared to 34 percent statewide, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cVaccination rates for the flu are low, and this is a problem, and it\u2019s something that we\u2019re working on,\u201d Ojikutu said.<\/p>\n Ojikutu urged families not to listen to misinformation about the safety of vaccines.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s vaccine is potentially mismatched with the flu strain that is circulating most widely: a variant of influenza A H3N2, known as \u201csubclade K.\u201d But Ojikutu said the shot can still decrease the severity of illness and risk of hospitalization.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually the flu presents as a mild illness in children,\u201d Ojikutu said. \u201cHowever, it can be very dangerous and severe as it was in these two cases.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n Last season, there were 470 flu-related deaths in Massachusetts, up from 251 during the 2023-2024 season, according to DPH<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to getting vaccinated, avoiding congregated areas when sick and masking can help prevent the spread of flu, she said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n On Monday, the federal Department of Health and Human Services dropped the number of vaccines it recommends for every child from 17 to 11.<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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\u2019ve made,\u201d Ojikutu said. \u201cThis is political. It doesn\u2019t feel responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n Ojikutu said parents should instead turn to organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Boston Public Health Commission for guidance.<\/p>\n