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Influenza-Associated Mortality Among Children in Canada from 2004 to 2022
Jennifer Tam1, Jacqueline Modler2, Julie A Bettinger3
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric influenza deaths were common in Canadian hospitals, especially in young children and those with high-risk conditions. Low vaccination rates highlight the need for improved influenza immunization strategies in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Influenza remains a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality globally.
- Understanding the characteristics of fatal influenza cases in children is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the epidemiology of pediatric influenza-associated deaths in Canadian pediatric tertiary hospitals.
- To assess the vaccination status of children who died from influenza.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric influenza-associated deaths.
- Data collected from Canadian pediatric tertiary hospitals between 2004 and 2022.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and vaccination status.
Main Results:
- Eighty pediatric influenza-associated deaths were identified between 2004 and 2022.
- Children under 5 years old and those with high-risk conditions accounted for 55% and 77.5% of cases, respectively.
- Only 24.5% of eligible children with known vaccination status were immunized.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric influenza deaths disproportionately affect young children and those with underlying health conditions.
- Low influenza vaccination coverage among pediatric mortality cases indicates a critical gap in prevention.
- Enhanced influenza vaccination campaigns are essential to reduce pediatric influenza mortality in Canada.
Abstract:
We identified 80 pediatric influenza-associated deaths in Canadian pediatric tertiary hospitals from 2004 to 2022. Children aged <5 years and with high-risk conditions represented 55% and 77.5% of cases, respectively. Only 24.5% of age-eligible hospitalized cases with known vaccination status had been immunized against influenza that season. Vaccination efforts should be enhanced to reduce influenza mortality.
