Texas kids' flu vaccination rates are down

CDC data show childhood flu vaccinations in Texas are down 6.5 percentage points year-over-year as of Jan. 3, and influenza cases that rose in late December have since decreased across the state.

Childhood flu vaccination rates in Texas have fallen compared with last season. The CDC reported a 6.5 percentage-point decline for children ages 6 months to 17 years as of Jan. 3. Influenza cases rose at the end of December. State and county dashboards show cases have since decreased across Texas and in Bexar County. Key points: - CDC data show childhood flu vaccine uptake in Texas fell 6.5 percentage points year-over-year as of Jan. 3 for ages 6 months to 17 years. - National childhood vaccination rates are reported as down 1.5 percentage points year-over-year, per the CDC. - After a late-December rise in cases, influenza activity has decreased across Texas and in Bexar County, according to state and county dashboards. - Federal guidance on flu shots for children was changed to advise parents to discuss vaccination with their child's doctor rather than issuing a universal recommendation; the change drew criticism from many medical experts. Summary: The reported drop in childhood vaccination coverage in Texas comes amid a recent seasonal rise in influenza that has since eased. Undetermined at this time.