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The extended flu season this year that started earlier than normal, did not only dangerously afflict senior citizens, but also took a toll on the youth. According to health officials, the flu killed 105 children this year and many of them did not receive the flu vaccine. Although this number is only slightly above the average of 100 children deaths per flu season, it reminds parents to continue to vaccinate their children. Even though the flu season is coming to an end, parents must be persistent with flu vaccinations every year, especially for children under 18-years-old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the 105 children fatalities, 90 percent of them were not vaccinated during this flu season. Health officials recommend that children over six months and up should all be vaccinated. Even though the vaccine did not seem to help the elderly this season, it is considered to be effective for the children.

The CDC's review of the 2012-2013 flu season also reported statistical analyses of the children who died from the flu this year. The report stated that 60 percent of the deaths were from children who were considered to be high risk for developing complications from the flu. Those who are considered to be high-risk children are under five-years-old and have chronic health issues, such as asthma, lung disorders, heart disease, and/or a neurological or neurodevelopmental disorder. The other 40 percent of deaths were believed to not have any chronic health complications.

The CDC first decided to track the number of deaths after the deadly 2003-2004 flu season that lasted longer and infected a lot of children. The number of pediatric deaths that year was 153 reported from 40 states. By analyzing the statistics and trends, researchers and doctors can find ways to improve how they handle flu cases. Furthermore, these numbers help reiterate the importance of getting vaccinated. The average number of pediatric deaths due to the flu should ideally be lowered every year.