San Diego County health officials are entreating families to get their children vaccinated after three teenagers have died of the flu so far this winter. All three were unvaccinated, and one had underlying health conditions.

Heading into peak flu season, San Diego County is seeing its highest rates of flu cases in five years, public health department data shows. The big picture: A "quad-demic" of illness is hitting simultaneously this winter with high levels of influenza A,

Three teenagers are among 73 individuals who have died from the flu this season, according to San Diego County’s latest respiratory virus data, a statistic that has prompted public health officials to re-promote vaccinations.

It's not too late for children and teens to be vaccinated against influenza this flu season, county health officials said Thursday.

In San Diego County, nearly 80 percent of 5- to 17-year-olds have not received this flu season’s vaccine, said interim public health officer Dr. Ankita Kadakia.