The Current The flu can turn deadly, get your shot, doctors warn
9 snips
Dec 17, 2025 
Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, shares alarming insights about rising pediatric flu hospitalizations and the critical need for vaccinations. He highlights the harsh impact of the H3N2 strain and the lack of prior immunity in children. Virologist Angela Rasmussen warns of significant gaps in surveillance data and the increasing severity of the current flu season, influenced by low vaccination rates and misinformation. Both experts emphasize the urgent need for parents to vaccinate their children this season.
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Family Chooses To Let Flu Run Its Course
- Michelle McPhail described her family's worst flu yet and said her son had it three times this season.
- They chose not to get the flu shot and planned to let infections run their course.
Flu Still Causes Pediatric Deaths
- Influenza kills a small number of children each year, but deaths still occur regularly in Canada.
- About three quarters of fatal pediatric flu cases had underlying conditions, yet one in four had no known risk factors.
H3N2 Dominance Raises Risk
- This season is dominated by influenza A H3N2, a subtype linked to more severe disease especially in older adults.
- Many children lack prior exposure to H3N2 because it's been over three years since an H3N2-dominant season.