‘Happy little boy with the cheeky smile’: Tiny flu victim named

A Queensland toddler who tragically died after contracting influenza A was a “happy and healthy little boy” with a cheeky smile, his loved ones say.

A toddler who tragically died after contracting influenza A was a “happy and healthy little boy” with a cheeky smile and his whole life ahead of him.

The godparents of two-year-old Kaiser McKinley, who died earlier this week at Gladstone Hospital, have created a GoFundMe page to assist the boy’s family with funeral expenses.

“Being only two years old Kaiser still had his whole life ahead of him,” the page read.

“He was a happy and healthy little boy with a cheeky smile.”

Kaiser McKinley. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood Kaiser’s mother Shayna – who is pregnant – and another two siblings are also suffering from flu symptoms.

Central Queensland Health chief executive Emma McCahon on Friday said the toddler’s death would be reviewed as she paid her respects to the family.

“We will do what we can to support the family and our team members at this difficult time,” she said.

“When an unexpected death happens, as in this case, we review what has occurred to ensure all care that was delivered was appropriate and to identify any possible improvements.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath described the toddler’s death as “tragic” and “devastating” as she offered her condolences to family and friends.

She said she was waiting for a briefing around the circumstances of the boy’s death.

Kaiser McKinley. Picture: Facebook

“Any loss of life and especially a child is devastating … no matter what the circumstances are behind it,” she said.

“What that means is there is a family that is deeply grieving right now and our condolences go out to the family and friends of that child.”

Between January 1 and June 5 this year, 1319 children aged between zero and four contracted influenza in Queensland.

As of Friday, eight people were being treated for influenza in ICUs across the state while another 128 were hospitalised.

About 31 per cent of Queenslanders are currently vaccinated against the virus.

A two-year-old boy died on Thursday afternoon at the Gladstone Hospital. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Ms D’Ath said the state’s vaccination rate was now double what it was this time last year.

“So the flu vaccination rates is in incredible - the briefing I got on Monday is that prior to us announcing that we were providing free flu shots from six year olds to 64 year olds, we were actually seeing a decline in uptake of the flu vaccination as we’re heading into flu season, which was very, very concerning,” she said.

“And we were significantly lower than what we were as far as vaccination take up from last year.

“I can now say that I’ve been advised that we are now at double the vaccination rates that we were last year and that shows a significant uptake.”

The Palaszczuk government recently announced the flu vaccine would be free until the end of June.

Kaiser Mckinley. Picture: GoFundMe