Two children died of the flu in Oregon over Christmas week, the first such pediatric deaths in the state in two years, according to state health officials.

They’re among 11 deaths of children from the flu nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, the flu kills hundreds of people in Oregon, with the CDC showing 370 deaths in the state 2022, the latest year available. But pediatric deaths are relatively rare, said Dr. Paul Cieslak, head of infectious diseases and vaccinations at the Oregon Health Authority.

No children in Oregon died from the flu last year or in the 2021-22 and 2020-21 seasons, but three died during 2022-23 and four died during the 2019-20 season, state data shows.

The last flu season was particularly deadly for children across the country, with 200 dying from the flu, marking a new high from 2019-20 when 199 children died, the CDC said.

Cieslak declined to provide any details about the Oregon kids who died, saying during a Friday news conference only that they were younger than 18 and died the week of Dec. 22 to 28. Their deaths were cited in the latest edition of the health authority’s weekly flu update that tracks hospitalizations in the Portland area. The newsletter said currently 146 people are hospitalized in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties with the flu. Cieslak said more than 470 have been hospitalized this season in the Portland area.

The flu season started at the beginning of October, and Cieslak said it’s been an average year, noting that every year takes a toll.

“Virtually every season, we see hospitals filling up with patients to overflowing,” Cieslak said, “And this year is no exception.”

The flu shot this year appears to be fairly effective against about 75% of the strains circulating, according to the CDC. The vaccine is not that effective against the influenza A strain, which is fairly dominant this year, but that strain is the least serious. Cieslak said the shot appears to be a good match for the H3N2 strain.

“A little over half of the cases are the H3N2, which is the worst type,” Cieslak said.

Very young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to becoming severely ill from the virus, with older adults accounting for many of the deaths. The flu shot can be given to anyone at least 6 months old, and Cieslak urged those eligible to get vaccinated.

“Every season we do see our children being hospitalized with influenza,” Cieslak said. “But everybody’s at risk.”

Yet only a minority of Oregonians ever get a flu shot. Cieslak said that flu vaccinations are down 4% this season, with 26% of those eligible getting a shot. But it’s still not too late to get vaccinated, he said.

“There are probably 10 or 12 weeks of influenza season left to go,” Cieslak said. “We would definitely recommend protecting yourself against it.”

He said it looks like the flu season is peaking in Oregon while cases of RSV or respiratory syncytial virus are increasing. COVID-19 cases have been steady, though people with COVID are not filling up hospitals as they’ve done in the past. Cieslak said that’s probably because Oregonians have a high level of immunity from illness and getting shots and boosters.

Cieslak advised Oregonians to take the usual precautions if they get sick. Stay home, stay away from others, cover your cough and wash your hands. He said masking can help as well, and he advised people to be aware of seniors with chronic conditions, who are the most susceptible to severe illness from respiratory infections. At the first sign of symptoms, he said to get them to a provider.

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