State health officials say that the past two weeks have seen flu cases spike up across all of New York.

Doctors at Maimonides Medical Center tell News 12 that the cases are rising weekly, and that the top concern of theirs is how it will impact children and spread among them.

Health care professionals say that the flu vaccine is of the utmost importance, especially in children. They say that while most years people wait until August or September to get the vaccine, getting it sooner this year is recommended.

According to state health statistics, 11 children have died during the flu season in New York. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that nine children have died from the flu countrywide just this week alone, and 91 have died across the United States during flu season.

"So many of our patients don't get hospitalized because they're having trouble breathing but because they get dehydrated from not wanting to drink or take anything by mouth,” said Tali Caronia, pediatrician at Maimonides. “At the same time though if they're generally well have a fever but are still able to drink and still urinating and generally acting like themselves its best to just stay at home."

Doctors also say that flu symptoms in children often vary from coughing to fevers and even vomiting, and urge parents to take their children to hospitals if they notice anything out of the ordinary with their eating, drinking, or behavior.