Mississippi Health Officials Report First Pediatric Flu Death of the Season

January 24, 2025 TruthUSA

Health authorities in Mississippi have announced on January 24 that the first pediatric influenza death of this flu season has been confirmed.

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported that the patient had not received the flu vaccine, noting that vaccination is the optimal safeguard against the virus “and the serious consequences of flu infection.”

“It is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this season,” stated Dr. Renia Dotson, State Epidemiologist.

Pediatric flu deaths were first documented in 2008, with a total of 27 pediatric deaths attributed to the virus since then, according to the health department.

Mississippi’s flu season peaks in January and extends through March.

County health departments offer flu vaccinations for individuals under 18 years old through the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program.

In related news, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is contending for the secretary position at the Department of Health and Human Services in a potential second Trump administration, has voiced criticism regarding the flu vaccine.

“I would not take the flu shot under any circumstances,” Kennedy expressed on the podcast “Valuetainment” hosted by Patrick Bet-David in July 2020.

He mentioned that while the flu shot might protect against one specific strain, it could predispose individuals to various other infections, referencing a study conducted by the U.S. military alongside other research suggesting that the flu vaccine may enhance susceptibility to additional respiratory viruses.

When questioned about whether he would support laws to make the flu vaccine illegal, Kennedy replied that he is “a proponent of free market principles.”

“I oppose mandates,” he clarified. “There might be scenarios where that vaccine could benefit some people, but I firmly believe it shouldn’t be mandatory.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the side effects of the flu vaccine are “generally mild and resolve independently within a few days.”

Severe reactions are uncommon and could potentially involve Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which a person’s immune system harms their nerve cells, leading to muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis, according to the CDC.

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