(BPT) - At 16 years old, Terese "Reese" Termulo was a healthy, active honors student and dancer with a bright future ahead of her, when she suddenly became ill with the flu.

On Jan. 9, 2020, her father, Dr. Cesar Termulo, a pediatrician in Dallas, Texas, received a call from her school that she was feeling sick. Termulo - who suspected she could have contracted the flu - quickly brought her to his office, where she tested positive for influenza B, was given antivirals, and went home to rest and recover.

"Reese wasn't as sick as many of my other patients who had influenza B," said Termulo. "She seemed to be improving - no fever, and she didn't show signs of pneumonia or other serious flu complications."

The next morning, Reese felt ready to go to school, but her father insisted she stay home. Before he left for work, Termulo used his stethoscope to listen to his daughter's heart and lungs so that he could check for serious complications and concluded she was on the mend.

"The last thing I ever said to Reese was that I thought she would get better," said Termulo.

No one could have suspected that Reese's symptoms would rapidly progress, and her condition would take a turn for the worse. Later that morning, Reese's mother found her upstairs, passed out, and she had stopped breathing. The flu virus had quickly attacked her lungs, and she eventually became septic. Reese passed away less than 24 hours after her diagnosis.

Serious flu complications

Influenza (or flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs.¹ People can begin spreading the flu to others one day before symptoms start and up to a week after symptoms appear - and some, especially young children, might be contagious to others for even longer.¹

The flu can impact every person differently. Symptoms can appear suddenly and can include fever (or feeling feverish/chills), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.²

While most people who get the flu will recover within a few days to less than two weeks, some may develop complications like pneumonia and even death.²

The 2025-2026 flu season followed one of the most severe flu seasons in recent U.S. history, with record-breaking pediatric deaths and overwhelming levels of illness and hospitalization.³ In fact, from Oct. 1, 2025, through May 9, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were at least 32 million illnesses, 390,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths from the flu in the U.S.⁴

"The harsh reality is that anyone can get sick from the flu - even people who are or feel healthy - and serious problems related to flu can happen at any age," said Dr. Luis Romano, GSK's US Medical and Clinical Affairs Lead for Flu Vaccines. "That said, some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick."

Groups at higher risk of serious flu-related symptoms include¹:

• People 65 years and older
• People with certain chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease)
• Pregnant women
• Young children

The flu does not affect all communities equally, and the 2025-2026 season once again exposed deep and persistent disparities in flu-related outcomes among racial and ethnic minority groups.⁵ According to the CDC, Black and Hispanic communities consistently experienced higher rates of flu-related complications and death, often due to lower vaccination rates and delayed access to care.⁶

Why you should speak to your provider about annual flu vaccination

The flu is a serious illness and should be taken seriously. The best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu every season is to vaccinate everyone 6 months of age and older annually.³

"Decades of data confirm that flu vaccines have an excellent safety record," said Romano. "In fact, hundreds of millions of Americans have received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and ongoing monitoring consistently reinforces their strong safety profile."⁷

Since Reese's passing, Termulo and his family have made it their mission to educate families on the potential dangers of the flu and urge people to get vaccinated against the flu every year.

Now is a good time to think about flu vaccination

Fall can be a busy season for many people, but it's vital to make time to get your flu shot. The CDC recommends that most people receive their flu vaccine in September or October, ideally by the end of October.⁸ The good news is that getting a flu shot is typically quick and convenient.

If you already have a yearly wellness visit scheduled, ask your primary care provider about receiving your flu shot during your visit. You can also get a flu shot in pharmacies, urgent care clinics, college health centers and even some schools or workplaces.⁹ Some locations like your local pharmacy may accept walk-ins, so you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu with minimal time commitment.

To learn more about the flu and flu prevention, visit CDC.gov/Flu.

"The flu can disrupt your life and your family's lives," said Termulo. "Losing my daughter is a heartbreaking reminder that the flu can have devastating consequences. As both a father and a physician, I hope our family's experience encourages others to recognize the seriousness of the flu and the profound impact it can have on families."

Sources

1. About Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed Feb. 26, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html

2. Symptoms and Signs of Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed Aug. 26, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/signs-symptoms/index.html

3. Influenza Activity in the United States During the 2024-25 Season and Composition of the 2025-26 Influenza Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed Sept. 26, 2025. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2025-2026-influenza-activity.html

4. Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 18, Ending May 9, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published May 15, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-18.html

5. Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 25, Ending June 27, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published July 6, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. CDC FluView Week 25

6. Flu and Healthy Lives for All. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published Jan. 17, 2025. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/healthy-living/index.html

7. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed October 2023. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/flu.html

8. Interim Estimates of 2025-26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness-United States, September 2025-February 2026. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2026;75(9):116-123. Published March 6, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026.

9. Where to Find Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published July 10, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/vaccine-planning.html