Raising US child flu vaccination rate to 70% could prevent 30,000 hospitalizations, 123 deaths in highly active season

New research projects increasing the US pediatric influenza vaccination rate to the Healthy People 2030 goal of 70% would avert more than 2.2 million outpatient visits, 30,494 hospitalizations, and 123 pediatric deaths during a high-incidence season, easing strain on health systems. The findings, presented at the recent Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting in Boston, highlight the potential consequences of the continued slide in pediatric flu vaccine uptake, such as increased healthcare visits and hospitalizations, said the authors, from flu vaccine maker CSL Seqirus.