2nd pediatric flu death in Colorado this season confirmed

A child from southern Colorado has become the second to die from the flu this season, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed Wednesday.

The child was preschool-aged and died sometime in the past seven days, said a spokesperson with the CDPHE. For privacy reasons, officials could not release the child's exact age and time of death.

It's not clear if the child was vaccinated against influenza, said the CDPHE in a statement to KRDO.

In a release Wednesday, the CDHPE provided the following statement about vaccinating children during flu season:

While flu is circulating, it is not too late to get a flu shot, and we recommend everyone ages six months and older who has not had the yearly vaccine, get it. Children who are younger than 9 years who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, and those under 9 who have only previously gotten one dose of the vaccine, should get two doses of the vaccine. The first dose should be given as soon as the vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.