Second Flu Death Reported in Colorado Amidst Severe Season
Table of Contents
A high school student in Colorado has become the second pediatric victim of the flu this season, raising concerns as the state experiences a record surge in cases.
- Colorado has reported two influenza-associated pediatric deaths since October 1, 2025.
- Nationwide, 17 children have died from the flu this season, according to the CDC.
- Unvaccinated children face a significantly higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
- Flu vaccination rates remain low in Colorado, particularly among older children.
A second child in Colorado has died from the flu this season, health officials confirmed. The latest case involves a high school-aged individual from outside the Denver metropolitan area, according to a state health department spokesperson. The death was recorded on the state’s viral respiratory diseases dashboard as occurring since October 1, 2025. Importantly, no pediatric deaths due to COVID-19 or RSV have been reported in Colorado during the same timeframe.
This tragic development follows the confirmation in mid-December of the season’s first influenza-associated pediatric death, which involved an elementary school-aged child from the Denver metro area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 17 influenza-associated pediatric deaths across the nation this season.
“Unfortunately, this has been a severe flu season, and pediatric deaths are a tragic reminder that influenza is not a benign illness for children,” said Dr. David Higgins, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “While most kids recover, every year we see that influenza can cause severe complications and death, even in previously healthy children.”
Is the flu vaccine effective in preventing severe illness in children? Yes, according to experts, unvaccinated children are at substantially higher risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Jason Lefevre, a spokesman for the CDC, stated in an email, “During most seasons 80 to 90 percent of flu-related pediatric deaths happen in kids who are not fully vaccinated against flu.”
Flu Cases and Hospitalizations Surge
Colorado reported three pediatric flu deaths during the last respiratory disease season. The highest number recorded in recent years was four Colorado children who died from the flu during the 2019-20 season. This year’s two deaths coincide with a record wave of flu illness in Colorado, mirroring a national surge in cases.
December saw the highest flu hospitalization rates among children, following those aged 75 and older. State data indicates a rate of 115 hospitalizations per 100,000 for children under 6 months, and 81 per 100,000 for those between 6 and 23 months. Nearly 3,700 people have been hospitalized with the flu in Colorado since the start of October.
Vaccination Rates Remain Low
Approximately 29% of all Coloradans have received a flu shot this season, a slight decrease from the previous year, according to the state health department. Vaccination rates are marginally better among younger children. For children aged 6 months to 9 years, the flu vaccination rate is 31.5%, a slight improvement over last year. However, for older children (10-19 years), the rate is around 22%, significantly lower than national figures published by the CDC, which reports 42.5% of children aged 6 months to 17 years are vaccinated, as of early 2026. The national vaccination rate for adults 18 and older is approximately 44%.
Health officials recommend the following:
- Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions, according to the CDC.
- Vaccination is especially important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.
- You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time.
Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, emphasized the importance of simple preventative measures. These include frequent handwashing, surface cleaning, and wearing a mask when sick or in crowded spaces. “Especially if you’re gonna be in very crowded conditions like the airport shuttles or other things,” she said. “Wear a mask. It’s a good way to prevent yourself from getting sick and there’s all sorts of things that are going to be circulating for a while.”
Dr. Barron also noted that it’s not too late to get a flu shot, as the flu season typically extends into the spring. “Now school is back in session and all the other things,” she said. “So I don’t think we’re completely out of the woods.”
