Over 100 children have died from the flu so far this season, breaking a record set in 2009, according to a report.
CNN reports the 105 child flu deaths are the most at this point in the season since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control started keeping records in 2004, outside of the 2009 flu pandemic.
Doctors told CNN this has been an unusual flu season with a higher rate of children and young adults affected than the older population.
Both an earlier prevalence of influenza B and more H1N1 cases may be factors in the uptick of child cases, according to experts. However, the deaths could also be attributed to a particularly severe flu season.
This year’s flu vaccine is considered to be effective in protecting against the illness by health experts. The CDC said the vaccine has been more than 50% effective in preventing children from getting a severe enough illness to go to a doctor’s office.
Flu vaccines are “substantial protection” for kids ages 6 months to 17 years old, according to the CDC.
**The Associated Press contributed to this report.**
