More than 900 Californians have died of the flu so far this season amid low vaccine rates, state says

More than 900 Californians have died of the flu so far this season amid low vaccine rates, state says
Los Angeles Times, CA; by Lila Seidman; 2/22/25
More than 900 Californians — including 15 children — have succumbed to the flu this season in what has turned out to be one of the worst surges of the respiratory illness in years, according to a report released Friday by the California Department of Public Health. Most of the influenza victims — 701 — were over 64 years old, which tracks with the conventional notion that the illness disproportionately affects older people. However, the number of children who have died has raised concerns. Four more kids died of the flu during the week ending Feb. 15, increasing the seasonal pediatric death toll by more than a third, according to the report.