As the flu continues its achy, feverish march across the state and nation, U.S. health officials said the most common strain is one that can be particularly tough on kids. And many of Baltimore’s youth may not be protected.
The rate of vaccination of city students during school clinics has been far lower than those in other Maryland counties, with just a small fraction of schools even offering the vaccine because there were too few takers.
“I am quite concerned that the overall flu vaccination rates in Baltimore City may be lower” than in the counties, said Tiffany Tate, executive director of the Maryland Partnership for Prevention, the nonprofit that manages school clinics in Baltimore and six counties. “For some reason, the uptake has not matched the effort and what we expect and need to ensure optimal flu vaccination coverage.”
This season’s flu already appears to be taking a toll statewide. About 8% of those hospitalized with flu-related complications were aged 5 to 17, according to state health data collected through Jan. 11. That’s double the percentage this time last year.
There have been two deaths of children reported from flu complications so far in Maryland this season, according to the data. Officials do not disclose where the deaths occurred.
A total of 37,000 people of all ages had gone to an emergency room with flu-like symptoms and 23,000 had gone to a doctor’s office, according to a voluntary reporting system in the state.
“The flu got off to an earlier start this year than normal; things are in full swing now, without a doubt," said Dr. Monique Duwell, chief of the Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Outbreak.
In the Baltimore region, the Maryland Partnership for Prevention program vaccinated 12,000 students in Howard, 5,000 in Carroll and 6,000 in Harford counties, and most schools participated. In Baltimore, it vaccinated fewer than 1,500 and only about 17% of the city’s 130 elementary and middle schools participated.
At least 25 students must sign up for a school to host an influenza clinic.
Tate notes that the group can’t say how many kids go to their doctors or elsewhere for the vaccine. The city health department continues to offer some vaccinations to children, including those who do not have a medical provider, have Medicaid or don’t have insurance that covers immunizations.
Andre Riley, a spokesman for Baltimore schools, echoed Tate, saying the school-based clinics are not the only place where kids can be vaccinated.
“If students opt not to receive shots through the partnership, they can request the vaccination through a private physician, another external program, or students do not receive flu shots at all," Riley said. "Our goal is to provide an avenue for students to receive this preventative measure to work to achieve the healthiest, safest learning environments possible.”
Duwell said health officials “are concerned about any child or adult not vaccinated that can be.”
“The challenge is in how we get messages out to people," she said. "We continue to pursue getting those messages out and getting access to flu shot to as many people as we can in Maryland.”
In Maryland, like nationally, the dominant strain is a B strain called Victoria. Normally A strains are more common this time of the season, which generally runs from fall to spring.