The CDC's FluView weekly surveillance report for Week 22, ending June 6, 2026, confirmed a season-total of 179 influenza-associated pediatric deaths during the 2025–2026 influenza season, a figure that has not changed in the most recent reporting weeks as influenza activity has returned to low seasonal levels. The data, released on a delayed schedule because of the Juneteenth federal holiday observed on June 19, is the latest update in a season that the CDC characterized as moderate severity across all age groups.
The headline number, 179 children dead from influenza, is accompanied by a finding that is the most direct public health message in the entire FluView report: among children who were eligible for influenza vaccination and had a known vaccination status, approximately 85% of those who died were not fully vaccinated against influenza. That single statistic defines the preventability of the majority of this season's pediatric influenza deaths.
To put the 179 deaths in historical context: the 2024–25 season recorded 297 pediatric influenza deaths, significantly higher, while the 2023–24 season saw 210, and the 2022–23 season saw 187. The 2025–26 total of 179 is lower than the prior three seasons, but represents a death toll that is almost entirely concentrated in children who had not received a vaccine that is recommended, available, and covered by most insurance plans for all children 6 months and older.
The Full Season Burden — and What the Numbers Represent
The 179 pediatric deaths are the most visible data point in a season-long disease burden of significant scale. Preliminary CDC end-of-season estimates presented June 18, 2026, at the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting, the same body that voted on the 2026–2027 flu vaccine formulation, estimated the cumulative 2025–26 influenza burden as:
- 32 million illnesses
- 15 million medical visits
- 390,000 hospitalizations
- 24,000 total deaths
Those numbers reflect a moderate season, but moderate, in influenza terms, still means a significant and largely preventable toll. FluView data through Week 22 showed that influenza A(H3N2) predominated overall during the season, with influenza B viruses increasing and becoming more prominent in the later part of the season. The cumulative FluSurv-NET hospitalization rate was the third highest on record, and the second highest since 2010–11 for children under 18, the highest ever recorded for school-age children 5 to 17.
| 2025–26 Influenza Season Burden | Estimate |
| Total illnesses | 32 million |
| Medical visits | 15 million |
| Hospitalizations | 390,000 |
| Total deaths | 24,000 |
| Pediatric deaths | 179 (confirmed through Week 22) |
| Unvaccinated among eligible pediatric deaths | ~85% |
| Predominant virus | Influenza A(H3N2); later influenza B |
| Season severity classification | Moderate (all ages) |
| Pediatric hospitalization rate | Second-highest since 2010–11 for children under 18 |
The 2026–2027 Flu Vaccine Is Finalized — and What Parents Need to Know Now
The June 18, 2026 meeting of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted on the composition of the 2026–2027 influenza vaccine, the first concrete step in preparing for next fall's flu season. The committee's recommendations will guide manufacturers in producing hundreds of millions of flu vaccine doses for distribution beginning in late summer 2026.
The timing of this article — published June 22, 2026, in the week after the vaccine formulation vote and the same week as the final FluView update — creates a direct call to action for parents. Flu vaccines for the 2026–2027 season are not yet available, but they typically begin arriving in pharmacies and pediatrician offices in late August and early September. Vaccination before the October peak of flu season provides the optimal window of protection.
The CDC recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older receive an annual influenza vaccine, with rare exceptions. Children receiving the flu vaccine for the first time in their lives, and children under 8 who have not previously been vaccinated, require two doses given at least four weeks apart, making early vaccination timing even more critical for younger children.
The data from the 2025–26 season sends a clear message to families: vaccination before the season begins remains the single most effective available intervention for preventing influenza deaths in children. The 85% unvaccinated figure among pediatric deaths is not merely a statistic; it is a description of a preventable outcome occurring at scale, year after year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children died from influenza in the 2025–2026 season?
CDC's FluView confirmed 179 influenza-associated pediatric deaths during the 2025–2026 season as of Week 22 (ending June 6, 2026). Among those with known vaccination status who were eligible for the vaccine, approximately 85% were not fully vaccinated against influenza.
How does the 2025–2026 pediatric flu death total compare to prior seasons?
The 179 confirmed pediatric deaths in 2025–26 are lower than the prior three seasons: 297 in 2024–25, 210 in 2023–24, and 187 in 2022–23. However, the pediatric hospitalization rate this season was the second-highest since 2010–11 for children under 18, and the highest ever recorded for school-age children 5 to 17.
When will the 2026–2027 flu vaccine be available?
The FDA's Advisory Committee finalized the 2026–2027 flu vaccine formulation on June 18, 2026. Vaccines for the new season are typically available in late August through September at pharmacies and pediatricians. The CDC recommends vaccination by the end of October.
Should my child get a flu vaccine if they have never had one before?
Yes. The CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine. Children receiving their first-ever flu vaccine, and children under 8 who have not been fully vaccinated before, need two doses given at least four weeks apart. This makes early vaccination planning especially important for this group.
What was the overall impact of the 2025–2026 influenza season?
Preliminary CDC estimates for the 2025–26 season project approximately 32 million illnesses, 15 million medical visits, 390,000 hospitalizations, and 24,000 total deaths. The season was characterized as moderate severity across all age groups.
