Mass. reports first flu-related deaths of children this season as cases spike

At least 30 people, including children, in Massachusetts have died from flu-related illness this season as the state reports "very high and rising" levels of flu activity across the state.

The city of Boston said on Tuesday that four children have died so far in the state from the flu this season — two in Boston. The Boston children who died were under age 2. It is not clear where the other two children lived.

The first child who died this season was reported in state data on the week ending Dec. 27. The state updates its flu data dashboard on Thursday evenings.

"These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening," said Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein.

The percent of hospitalizations associated with the flu has spiked in the last couple of weeks — a full month before last year's surge.

Hospitalizations during last winter's harsh flu season peaked at 10.5% at the beginning of February. In total, 470 people died.

State data shows only about 34% of Massachusetts residents have been vaccinated against the flu so far this year. The vaccination rate was around 45% in the winter of 2022-2023, and has been decreasing in the years since.

On Monday, the state's public health commissioner encouraged residents to get vaccinated if they have not done so already.

“This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action,” Goldstein said in a statement. "There is a simple, effective, and available way to address these concerns: vaccines. They can prevent serious illness and hospitalization. And they save lives."

Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu reminded residents it's not too late to get vaccinated.

"The flu vaccine actually takes about two weeks after getting the shot to be fully protected," she said. "And that's really the time that it takes your body to fully develop protective antibodies."

In Boston, she noted infection is increasing most rapidly in children. Children under 5 are seeing an 83% jump, and older children are seeing a 217% spike.

Beth Israel Lahey Health and Mass General Brigham are requiring masks for health care providers. Masks are not required, though encouraged, for patients and visitors.

The other two respiratory viruses known to spike over the winter — COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV) — are not widely circulating right now, but cases of both are beginning to rise, the state's health department said.