Multiple school districts in Texas announced that they would be temporarily closing their doors this week amid a surge in illness.
Luckily, we have a powerful tool in preventing serious illness and deaths caused by influenza: the flu vaccine.
One study found that parents who had not received COVID-19 vaccinations were less likely to have their children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.
Parents who identified as Republican were also less likely to have their children vaccinated for MMR.
For all of these reasons, the CDC continues to recommend a flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and up.
Due to an increase in illnesses, several Texas school districts declared they would be temporarily closing this week. But this time, staff and students are being sent home for reasons other than just the COVID-19 threat.
The number of flu cases, COVID-19 cases, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in the region has increased significantly in recent weeks.
The districtwide attendance rate has dropped to between 70 and 80 percent, according to the Godley Independent School District in Godley, Texas. According to a spokesperson who spoke to a local news organization, 650 students were absent on Tuesday due to the flu alone, and more were leaving throughout the day. Many of the employees were also ill.
In order to stop the spread of illness, affected schools stated that they would use the brief closure to clean buses and buildings.
Keep watching.
Disease X: A Threat to Humanity: What We Know and How We Can Prepare.
The flu is also on the rise nationwide. The rate of positive flu tests increased during the week ending Saturday, January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 25. . As of this season, 47 pediatric flu-related deaths have been reported; the CDC estimates that at least 20 million flu cases have resulted in 11,000 deaths overall.
What are children’s flu symptoms?
Doctor. According to pediatrician Janine Zee-Cheng of Indiana, they are currently seeing a rising number of flu cases, where patients typically arrive with a fever.
The CDC lists the following as additional signs of flu in kids.
I feel cold and feverish.
cough.
sore throat.
an overly runny or stuffy nose.
body aches or muscles.
headaches.
weariness.
diarrhea and vomiting, which affect children more frequently than adults.
Regarding fever or other symptoms of illness, you should speak with your pediatrician if your child is a young infant. Children who are older do not always need to see a doctor right away.
If you would like, you can even test your child for the flu at home using the combination COVID-19/flu rapid tests that are now available over-the-counter.
Any child, regardless of age, who is experiencing respiratory or hydration problems should be taken to a doctor. In order for the pediatrician to give you advice, discuss with them how often your child drinks and urinates if you are worried. “A child who is not eating is less concerning than one who is not consuming fluids,” Zee-Cheng stated.
Certain medications, such as Tamiflu, can reduce the length of illness, but they can also have negative side effects, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Tamiflu is typically not prescribed unless a patient is so ill that they might require hospitalization, according to Zee-Cheng. Moreover, the drug must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms for it to be effective, and many patients have already passed this time by the time they test positive for the flu.
A child should be taken to the doctor if they have had a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for five or more days, Zee-Cheng said. The doctor will probably check them for symptoms of an ear infection or pneumonia.
Fever does not always indicate that a child needs to be taken to the doctor right away, the pediatrician said, adding that “the fevers have definitely been lasting for a long time” during this flu season. Another crucial indicator is demeanor. Zee-Cheng stated that a child who is “really out of it” or “not responding” should see a doctor regardless of the temperature reading, but a child with a high fever who is playing normally probably doesn’t need to be seen.
What are some ways to avoid getting sick?
Fortunately, the flu vaccine is a potent tool that can help prevent influenza-related deaths and serious illness. It’s not too late to get your kids or yourself vaccinated this year.
According to the CDC, 44.1% of kids between the ages of 6 months and 17 have received a flu shot this season. According to estimates, 48.8% of children were vaccinated against the flu during the 2023–2024 season. That percentage was 51.3% in 2022–2023.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children who receive the flu vaccine has decreased annually, starting in May 2020 at 62.4%.
Increasing vaccine hesitancy after the pandemic is one explanation for this. According to an Annenberg Public Policy Center survey, the proportion of respondents who think that vaccines that have been approved for use in the U.S. S. 71 percent in 2023, down from 77 percent in 2021.
Additionally, there is evidence that people are more likely to doubt other vaccines when they are skeptical of one. According to one study, there was a lower likelihood that parents who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine would vaccinate their children against rubella, mumps, and measles. Additionally, children who had Republican parents were less likely to receive the MMR vaccine.
Although Zee-Cheng pointed out that the flu vaccine is produced annually, some people are hesitant to get it because they have heard that it is “not a good match” for the flu virus that is currently most prevalent. For this season’s vaccination, the CDC states that “effectiveness estimates based on real-world vaccine performance” won’t be accessible until February, several months after the vaccine’s release.
Additionally, according to the CDC, the flu shot offers protection against three distinct influenza viruses, and during flu season, several viruses are in circulation. Although the effectiveness of the vaccination varies from year to year, those who receive it typically experience less severe illness than those who do not. According to the CDC, receiving a flu shot lowers the risk of becoming ill by 40% and hospitalization by 60% on average. Because of all these factors, the CDC still advises everyone six months of age and older to get vaccinated against the flu. According to Zee-Cheng, babies typically receive two doses spaced four weeks apart. ().
Avoid advertisements and defend the free press.
America will be forever altered over the next four years. However, HuffPost is steadfast in its commitment to free and unbiased journalism.
We are providing qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom with an ad-free experience for the first time. We hope you’ll come.
You have previously contributed to HuffPost, and we must admit that we could use your assistance once more. During this crucial time, we will not compromise on our goal of delivering fair and free news. But without you, we are unable to succeed.
We’re providing ad-free access for the first time. to eligible contributors who help us with our courageous reporting. We hope to see you there.
We’ll be honest: we could use your assistance once more. You have previously supported HuffPost. We will not compromise on our goal of delivering fair and free news in this crucial time. But without you, we can’t succeed.
We are providing an ad-free experience for the first time. to eligible contributors who help us with our courageous reporting. We hope to see you.
Help HuffPost.
Have you already contributed? To hide these messages, log in.
Lastly, some parents delay getting their child vaccinated until they show no symptoms of illness because medical offices frequently ask families to reschedule flu shots if a child has a fever. However, children frequently experience a runny nose or cough for weeks at a time during the cold and flu season.
Mild illness symptoms shouldn’t stop you from vaccinating your child. If your child has a cold, ear infection, cough, runny nose, low-grade fever, or diarrhea, it is safe for them to get vaccinated. Vaccines can be administered to them concurrently with antibiotics. The efficacy of a vaccine is unaffected by your child’s condition, and the vaccination won’t exacerbate it.
