DENVER – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says the young child who died from this season’s flu virus toward the beginning of January was from the Denver metro territory and was just in part immunized.

Doctors state when a child under the age of 9 gets this flu vaccine for the first time, the kid needs two doses – no less than about a month separated – to be ensured. This kid obviously did not get the second dose.

“It’s an unfortunate but important reminder of the importance of two doses of influenza vaccine for young children who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, who is the state communicable disease epidemiologist.

Herlihy says the child had the H1N1 strain, which is the predominant strain this year.

That is likewise the strain Selina Nguyen has. The 7-year-old went into a coma, and at last check was all the while doing battling symptoms at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

It is later in the season, and doctors state it’s conceivable flu activity is plateauing, however doctors still prescribe getting influenza immunization. Influenza can form into pneumonia or other breathing troubles, particularly in high-risk groups.

“It’s a tragedy, and I think a reminder of the importance of influenza vaccination, and importance of seeking care early for influenza, especially in high-risk groups,” Herlihy said.

Topics #Colorado #Flu #Influenza