(LANSING, MI.)–Officials of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services(MDHHS) recently confirmed the first influenza associated pediatric death in the 2018-2018 flu season. Influenza claims the lives of children every year across the United States, which is why MDHHS is reminding residents it is not too late to get vaccinated for protection this season. The reported child death was only identified as being in the Upper Peninsula but did not identify where. This flu season has seen elevated activity across the country over the past few weeks, with some of the highest hospitalization rates ever recorded. That information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MDHHS strongly recommends everyone 6-months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. “It is not too late to get vaccinated,” according to Dr. Eden Wells, Chief Medical Executive for MDHHS. “The vaccine is your best defense against the flu and will help reduce the severity of symptoms if you catch the flu despite being vaccinated while remembering if your child is sick, stay home to help protect others.” More than three quarters of the positive influenza specimens confirmed by MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories this flu season has been the H3N2 virus. This virus can cause severe flu infections in children as well as in young and middle aged adults. Flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the flu and can also reduce the severity of flu illness. They further noted, vaccine is especially important for persons at increased risk for complications from flu, including children, adults aged 65-years and older, persons of any age with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women. Children less than six months are too young to be vaccinated and should be protected by the vaccination of others in close contact, the parents, siblings, grandparents, child care workers and healthcare personnel. During the flu season of 2016-2017, only 44.2-percent of Michigan residents were vaccinated against the flu, putting Michigan in 33rd place in the country. MDHHS personnel are urging resident to protect themselves and families against getting the flu this season. They noted, there is still time to vaccinate! More information is available at Michigan.gov/flu
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com