Seasonal Influenza Activity, Vaccination Rates, and Pediatric Influenza Mortality, Massachusetts 2024-2025

To inform public health actions during the current influenza season, the authors describe activity, vaccination, and pediatric mortality during the 2024-2025 influenza season in Massachusetts using public health surveillance data. Influenza activity was elevated, as measured by influenza-like illness, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Vaccination coverage was low in pediatric patients but remained high in people 65 years of age and older. There were 10 reported pediatric deaths; 7 of those occurred among children with preexisting conditions; 8 of 10 had not received that year´s influenza vaccination.