HOW MANY CHILDREN DIED OF THE SWINE FLU? I am by no means making light of the loss of any one child. As the father of a preschooler that comment comes from the heart. The US lost 83 children (<18 yoa) in the most recent flu season who had no underlying risk factors (269 total). 83. We spent millions of dollars in media blitzes, vaccinations and doctors visits.
Here is the sickening part. In this same time frame (7 months) we lost 700 children to not being properly restrained in a car seat. 750 kids under 2 end up in the ER due to bad reactions to decongestants. At least 250 deaths / year in children under 2 from medication reactions (the number is likely much, much higher). There is a dispropotionate effort to educate on influenza and nothing on much more relevant problems. At some point this has to stop.
