CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The percentage of children getting flu shots continues to plummet despite a record number of flu deaths last year. As of November 30th, the CDC reports that 37% of US children had received their flu shots.That number is down from 43% at the same time last year. The current vaccine protects from the two main strains of the virus-- H1N1 and H3N2. Local doctors tell 22News that the lower numbers could be because of 'vaccination fatigue.' Dr. Sundeep Shukla with Cooley Dickinson Hospital told 22News, "Right now is the right time to get the vaccination. When you get the flu vaccine…you decrease the possibility of dying, hospitalizations, and severity of illness. Kids that initially don't have the flu vaccine can get sicker and that's what we want to prevent." Just over 200 children died during last year's flu season, which is a record number before the pandemic. Local News Headlines Republican Newspaper and MassLive photographer Don Treeger retires after 43 years Local businesses unite to deliver 50 toy gifts to unhoused children serving Way Finders Holiday tree-lighting shines over Mason Square Flu shot rates drop as child flu deaths hit record high WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.