image: The PAS Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians, and educators worldwide, united by a shared mission: connecting the global academic pediatric community to advance scientific discovery and promote innovation in child and adolescent health.
Credit: Pediatric Academic Societies
BOSTON, April 24, 2026 – Achieving the Healthy People 2030 target of 70% immunization could substantially reduce the burden of influenza-related outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths, while easing pressure on pediatric healthcare infrastructure and improving system resilience, according to a new study. The study aimed to quantify the impact of low influenza vaccination rates among children (ages 6 months to 17 years) on U.S. healthcare resources. Findings from the research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting, taking place April 24-27 in Boston.
Influenza poses a significant annual public health challenge for children in the United States. Despite the availability of effective pediatric vaccines, persistently low immunization rates among children exacerbate seasonal outbreaks. This leads to increased pediatric outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions, placing substantial strain on pediatric healthcare services and infrastructure.
“These findings underscore the broader consequences of the continued decline in pediatric influenza vaccination rates—not only for children, but for the healthcare system as a whole,” said Joaquin Mould Quevedo, PhD, global health economics and value strategy senior director, CSL Seqirus. “Lower vaccination uptake among children is associated with increased healthcare visits and hospitalizations and can accelerate influenza transmission across age groups, placing additional strain on healthcare resources. This trend is particularly concerning following the 2024/25 US influenza season, which was marked by 293 reported pediatric deaths, the highest number since reporting began.”
At the current pediatric U.S. flu immunization rate (≈50%) during a high flu incidence season the model projects approximately 4,412,000 outpatient visits, 59,000 hospital admissions, 234 deaths with 14,000 acute hospital beds used and 2,000 ICU beds used at daily peak occupancy. For a low influenza season, projected are 1,544,000 outpatient visits; 18,000 hospital admissions and 70 deaths with 3,000 acute hospital beds used and 457 ICU beds used at daily peak occupancy. If the pediatric influenza immunization rate in the U.S. were to increase to 70%, the model projects that during a high-incidence flu season, approximately 2,205,773 outpatient visits, 30,494 hospital admissions, and 123 pediatric deaths could be prevented. In a low-incidence season, the model estimates the prevention of around 1,388,653 outpatient visits, 15,783 hospital admissions, and 63 deaths among children.
Additional information is included in the below research abstract. The PAS Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians and educators worldwide. View the full schedule in the PAS 2026 program guide. For more information about the PAS Meeting, please visit www.pas-meeting.org.
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About the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting
The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians, and educators worldwide, united by a shared mission: connecting the global academic pediatric community to advance scientific discovery and promote innovation in child and adolescent health. PAS is a partnership of four premier pediatric associations: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), the American Pediatric Society (APS), and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR). For more information, visit www.pas-meeting.org. Follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
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Abstract: Modeling the Impact of Pediatric Influenza Vaccination Rates on U.S. Healthcare Resource Utilization
Presenting Authors
Van Nguyen
Joaquin F. Mould-Quevedo, PhD, CSL Seqirus
Organization
CSL Seqirus
Topic
Infectious Diseases
Background
Influenza poses a significant annual public health challenge for children in the United States. Despite the availability of effective pediatric vaccines, persistently low immunization rates among children exacerbate seasonal outbreaks. This leads to increased pediatric outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions, placing substantial strain on pediatric healthcare services and infrastructure.
Objective
This study aimed to quantify the impact of low influenza vaccination rates among children (6 months-17 years) on U.S. healthcare resources.
Design/Methods
We applied a dynamic, age-stratified transmission model to estimate the effects of varying influenza vaccination rates during two representative U.S. influenza seasons: a low incidence (2011-2012) and high incidence (2017-2018). Four hypothetical immunization rates were evaluated (50%, 55%, 60% and 70%) considering outcome including outpatient visits, acute hospitalizations, number of hospital beds occupied and deaths. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) rate in children was averaged from CDC data over the last 10 seasons (58%). Vaccination rates for children and other age groups were estimated using CDC reports and this model assumed immunization with quadrivalent flu vaccines for all ages.
Results
At the current pediatric U.S. flu immunization rate (≈50%) during a high flu incidence season the model projects approximately 4,412,000 outpatient visits, 59,000 hospital admissions, 234 deaths with 14,000 acute hospital beds used and 2,000 ICU beds used at daily peak occupancy. For a low influenza season, projected are 1,544,000 outpatient visits; 18,000 hospital admissions and 70 deaths with 3,000 acute hospital beds used and 457 ICU beds used at daily peak occupancy. If the pediatric influenza immunization rate in the U.S. were to increase to 70%, the model projects that during a high-incidence flu season, approximately 2,205,773 outpatient visits, 30,494 hospital admissions, and 123 pediatric deaths could be prevented. In a low-incidence season, the model estimates the prevention of around 1,388,653 outpatient visits, 15,783 hospital admissions, and 63 deaths among children.
Conclusion(s)
Achieving the Healthy People 2030 target of 70% immunization could substantially reduce the burden of influenza-related outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths, while easing pressure on pediatric healthcare infrastructure and improving system resilience.