CDC Report Shows More Children Are Either Dying or Becoming Severely Ill With Flu Amid Declining Vaccination Rates

An Influenza Vaccine is prepared for a patient at Doctor Gary M. Kramer, MD, PA's Pediatric office on September 12, 2025, in Coral Gables, Florida. The Florida Department of Health recently released information on the development of rulemaking to revise immunization and document requirements for school entry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report showing that more and more children are either dying or becoming severely ill with the flu amid declining vaccination rates in the United States.

Now, cases of pediatric acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) are on the rise, with 109 children being diagnosed during the 2024-25 flu season. This is a rare inflammatory brain disease caused by the illness.