Despite Low Uptake, Flu Vaccines Show Benefit to Children from 2021-24

Research By: Mary Allen Staat, MD, MPH

Post Date: April 9, 2026 | Publish Date: April 6, 2025

The children who did receive influenza vaccines from from 2021 to 2024 enjoyed fewer flu-related hospitalizations and fewer outpatient medical visits, according to a new study co-authored by experts at Cincinnati Children’s.

Yearly effectiveness rates for the flu vaccine ranged from 34% to 60% across the study period, according to research published April 6, 2026, in Pediatrics. The findings were based on data from nearly 20,000 children, ranging from 6 months to 17 years old, who were tracked by the seven pediatric medical centers within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network.

Cincinnati Children’s is one of the seven centers. Mary Staat, MD, MPH, and Elizabeth Schlaudecker, MD, MPH, were co-authors in the new study.

Overall uptake of the flu vaccine was limited, with half or fewer of the young population receiving doses in a given year, the co-authors noted.

“Influenza vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of influenza for children,” the study states. “Improved pediatric influenza vaccination uptake would prevent additional influenza-associated hospitalizations and outpatient visits.”

See a story and video about the study on HealthDay: Flu Shot Offers Clear Protection for Kids, New Study Finds

Publication Information

Original title:	Pediatric Vaccine Effectiveness Against Influenza Hospitalization And Outpatient Visits: 2021–2024
Published in:	Pediatrics
Publish date:	April 6, 2025

Read the findings

Research By

Mary Allen Staat, MD, MPH

Division of Infectious Diseases

Our research goals are to better understand and identify the immune response to the flu in babies who were exposed to influenza for the first time either from a natural infection or from the flu vaccine. By understanding this response, we hope to develop a universal influenza vaccine.

mary.staat@cchmc.org