The importance of getting a flu shot this year 2:03
(CNN) -
A third of American parents have no plans to vaccinate their children against the flu this year, according to the National Survey of Child Health published Monday, despite the very real possibility that their child will also contract the fatal. covid-19.
In addition, two-thirds of parents do not believe that vaccinating their children against the flu is more important this year, despite advice to the contrary from leading government organizations and pediatricians.
LOOK: Yes, you can have coronavirus and flu at the same time. Here's what the "double pandemic" would do to your body
"Children under the age of 5, especially those under the age of 2, are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, adding that getting vaccinated Against Flu During the Pandemic: For All Ages, It's More Important Than Ever.
"We may see spikes in flu and covid-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the healthcare system, overload testing capacity and potentially reduce our ability to effectively detect and treat both respiratory illnesses," Sarah said. Clark, associate director of the survey conducted by CS Mott Children's Hospital, Michigan Medicine, in a statement.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, once again emphasized the importance of getting a flu shot this year, while speaking during the CITIZEN by CNN conference on Tuesday.
"You should get vaccinated no later than the end of October," he told the moderator, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent.
"If it's available now, you should get it now."
"Don't wait until after October," he added.
LOOK: This could be the most important flu vaccine of your life
The flu is deadly for your children
Children die from the flu each year;
Last year, 188 pediatric flu deaths were reported during the 2019-2020 flu season.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg, according to the CDC, because not many deaths from influenza are reported.
For example, the same number of children (188) died from the flu during 2017-2018, but based on the statistical model, the CDC believes that 600 children died.
Illness from the flu is much more serious than from a cold, the CDC warns, saying that many children must be hospitalized.
Between 7,000 and 26,000 children under the age of 5 in the United States are hospitalized for influenza-related illnesses each year.
In addition to death, the CDC says that serious complications from the flu include:
Inflammation of the brain, called encephalopathy.
Dehydration, where the child loses too much water and salts, which can also be fatal.
Pneumonia, which kills a child every 39 seconds worldwide, according to UNICEF
Make existing medical problems, such as asthma or heart disease, worse
Increased incidence of ear infections and sinus problems.
LOOK: Getting vaccinated against the flu this year is particularly important, say WHO officials
Double pandemic: flu and covid-19
The symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are similar: a worsening cough, fever, body aches, sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose, making it difficult for doctors to know which one to treat.
"We may see spikes in flu and covid-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the healthcare system, overload testing capacity, and potentially reduce our ability to effectively detect and treat both respiratory illnesses," Clark said. .
While few children have died from COVID-19, so far, there have been tragic cases: a baby died in China at the start of the pandemic, followed by another baby in the US in March.
Nine-year-old Kimora "Kimmie" Lynum died in Florida in July, followed in August by a 6-year-old girl.
Also in August, a 1-year-old boy with medical problems died in Georgia.
The number of covid-19 cases is increasing, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics that is updated weekly.
There were 74,553 new cases of covid-19 in children between September 3 and 17.
That's a 15% increase in just over two weeks.
In total, there were 587,948 cases of coronavirus in children in the United States, the AAP data showed.
Some doubt about the flu vaccine for their children
Families that did not vaccinate their children against the flu last year were also the least likely to plan to vaccinate them this year.
Those parents expressed concern about the side effects of the flu vaccine.
Or they said they believed the flu vaccine was neither necessary nor effective.
"There is a lot of misinformation about the flu vaccine, but it is the best defense for children against the serious health consequences of flu and the risk of spreading it to others," Clark said.
By comparison, 96% of parents who had their children vaccinated against influenza in 2019 said they intended to do the same this year.
"A key challenge for public health officials is how to reach parents who do not routinely seek seasonal influenza vaccination for their children," he said.
"When getting vaccinated against the flu annually is not a pattern, parents should be encouraged to think about why it is essential that their children get vaccinated."
About 14% of parents said they kept their children away from the doctor's office for fear of contracting COVID-19.
However, Clark said, most healthcare professionals have safety procedures in place.
"Parents who are concerned about exposure to COVID should contact their child's provider to find out the types of precautions that have been taken," he said in the statement.
Influenza