Health officials urge vaccination as Michigan reports first Pediatric Flu deaths
While no flu-related deaths have been reported in St. Joseph County, local hospitals have seen a significant increase in influenza cases, officials said.
Michigan has reported its first influenza-associated pediatric deaths of the 2024-25 flu season, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday.
The deaths occurred in Wayne and Genesee counties, according to a press release from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated as the state experiences a high rate of influenza, putting people of all ages at risk of severe illness, hospitalization, or even death.
“Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for the young, the elderly, people with chronic health conditions and those who are immunocompromised,” said Heidi Hazel, director of personal health and disease prevention at the health agency.
Children under six months old are too young to be vaccinated, making it essential for their close contacts — including parents, siblings, grandparents, child care workers and health care personnel — to receive the flu shot, Hazel said. Pregnant women are also encouraged to get vaccinated, as the shot provides protection for both the mother and newborn for several months.
While no flu-related deaths have been reported in St. Joseph County, local hospitals have seen a significant increase in influenza cases, officials said.
“We’re seeing very high flu activity across the state of Michigan, with cases of influenza A continuing to rise,” Kris Dewey, public information officer for the agency, told Watershed Voice.
Flu season typically begins in October and can last through May. Vaccines are widely available at local pharmacies.
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