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Flu vaccinations slightly lagging in Mass. this year amid early surge in flu cases

32 percent of Boston residents are vaccinated, which is lagging slightly behind from 34 percent last year and 36 percent the year before.

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

January 12, 2026

3 minutes to read

Flu vaccinations both in Boston and across Massachusetts are slightly lagging behind last year’s vaccination rates, city and state data shows, as an early surge of flu cases sends thousands to the hospital and has led to dozens of deaths statewide.

As of Jan. 8, at least four children and 62 adults have died from influenza this flu season, according to state data. Just before Christmas, Boston health officials reported an early 114 percent spike in flu cases, numbers that are usually reported in late January.

The children’s deaths are the first reported pediatric flu deaths in Boston since 2013, officials said.

32% of Bostonians vaccinated so far, down from 34% this week last year

So far this flu season, 32 percent of Boston residents have been vaccinated against the disease, a spokesperson for the Boston Public Health Commission said, which is lagging slightly behind from 34 percent last year and 36 percent the year before.

Nearly all of the flu cases are from a flu variant known as “subclade K,” according to Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, senior physician in the division of infectious diseases at Mass General Brigham. He said while there’s “a mismatch” between this year’s flu vaccine and the variant, the vaccine can still prevent severe illness.

“We as infectious disease physicians still believe that everybody six months and older should get the flu shot,” Kuritzkes told Boston.com. “The flu vaccine has been shown over decades to be remarkably safe, and it’s an important way of protecting yourself and your family from the potential consequences of influenza.”

Statewide, 34.8 percent of people have their flu vaccine, data shows, or approximately 1 out of 3 Massachusetts residents. Nearly 38 percent of residents had flu shots as of this week last year, and nearly 39 percent were vaccinated the year before.

Older adults in Massachusetts are vaccinated against flu at a higher rate, Kuritzkes said, even outpacing the vaccination rate for children. In Massachusetts, nearly 40 percent of children under 5 are vaccinated, while nearly 60 percent of adults 65 and older are vaccinated.

“Everybody is at risk for the flu,” Kuritzkes said. “Even though severe influenza and death from flu is most common in the elderly, people can still be protecting themselves at any age, over six months, by getting the vaccine.”

Not too late to get flu vaccine before influenza B, doctor says

It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine, Kuritzkes said, noting that flu season continues through at least the end of March. Influenza B, which is more common and may be severe in children, also becomes more common in February and March.

If you get sick, Kuritzkes said to take the usual precautions, including staying home. He recommended talking to your doctor about antiviral prescription drugs that can alleviate symptoms within the first few days of getting sick.

Health officials are urging residents over the age of six months to vaccinate against flu and take other preventative measures. In January, BPHC is hosting four free flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

Earlier this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. changed federal guidance around vaccines, including the CDC cutting the number of recommended childhood vaccines and no longer recommending the COVID-19 vaccines.

Kuritzkes attributed the lagging vaccination rate to both conflicting messaging between the state and federal government.

After the CDC’s website was updated to say that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not “evidence-based, Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu warned residents to not trust the CDC.

“People should talk to their own physician or healthcare provider to get the most up to date and reliable information that we do know from decades of experience that the flu vaccine is incredibly safe,” Kuritzkes said.