About 128 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed this year compared to 140 million at this time last year and 156 million the year before. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The number of children getting vaccinated against the flu is way down too.  In the UPMC system, more than 49,000 kids have been vaccinated against the flu so far. In 2021, 109,000 had gotten shots at this point and in 2020, almost 127,000 had been vaccinated.

All this comes at a time when we’re dealing with an increase in RSV cases and COVID is still infecting thousands across the country.

Why are many fewer kids getting flu shots and what impact will it have?

Appearing on The Spark Tuesday, Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist at UPMC in Central Pennsylvania said it's not just children who aren't getting flu shots but fewer people overall.

About 128 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed this year compared to 140 million at this time last year and 156 million the year before. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of children getting vaccinated against the flu is way down too.  In the UPMC system, more than 49,000 kids have been vaccinated against the flu so far. In 2021, 109,000 had gotten shots at this point and in 2020, almost 127,000 had been vaccinated.
All this comes at a time when we’re dealing with an increase in RSV cases and COVID is still infecting thousands across the country.
Why are many fewer kids getting flu shots and what impact will it have?
Appearing on The Spark Tuesday, Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist at UPMC in Central Pennsylvania said it's not just children who aren't getting flu shots but fewer people overall.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

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