CDC officials urge US flu vaccination after record child deaths last year

Americans told time to get vaccinated is now' as concerning mutation of influenza virus circulates in US

Officials are urging doctors to vaccinate their patients and provide flu antivirals after deaths among children reached record highs and as a concerning mutation of the virus circulates in the US.

Influenza activity is increasing in the US. The time to get vaccinated for this season is now," Timothy Uyeki, the chief medical officer of the influenza division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a call with clinicians last week.