Colorado flu vaccination rates for kids remain low as winter hits
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Just 22% of children in Colorado have gotten their flu vaccine as the winter respiratory season ramps up, per new state data provided to Axios Denver.
Why it matters: Flu shots can help prevent kids from getting sick, but rising vaccine skepticism, fueled in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic, appears to be dragging down immunization rates nationwide.
- The CDC reported 200 pediatric flu-related deaths in the U.S. during the 2023-24 season — a record high for a non-pandemic flu year.
By the numbers: As of Dec. 13, 274,815 children between 6 months and 17 years old have received a 2024-25 flu vaccine, according to Colorado's health department.
- That's on par with this time last year, with a negligible 0.05% increase.
Zoom out: Colorado still ranks high, at No. 7 nationwide, for childhood flu vaccine coverage, per CDC figures as of Nov. 30.
- Nationally, fewer kids in nearly every state are getting flu vaccines this year, with coverage down 7.1 percentage points compared to the same time last year.
Threat level: The state's flu levels remain low for now, unlike other parts of the country, including Louisiana and the District of Columbia, CDC data shows.
- Health experts say flu season severity is hard to predict, but the CDC expects peak hospitalizations from COVID-19, flu, and RSV to be similar or lower than last season.
The big picture: State data shows more Colorado parents are opting out of vaccinating their kids on religious or personal grounds.
- The trend has public health experts worried about the population being more vulnerable to a resurgence of avoidable diseases like measles.
The bottom line: The CDC recommends people ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine by the end of October — but notes that it's still beneficial for little ones to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated later than that.