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A New Recommendation
Beginning this influenza season, CDC recommends
that all children 6 months to 23 months old get a flu
shot.
Children Less Than 2 More Likely to Be Hospitalized
Recent studies have shown that children less than 2 years
old – even healthy children – are more likely
than older children to end up in the hospital with serious
complications if they get influenza. These complications
can include pneumonia, dehydration, worsening of long-term
medical problems like heart disease or asthma, encephalopathy,
and other bacterial infections, including sinus and ear
infections. In some cases, these complications can lead
to death.
To protect their health, all children 6 months
to 23 months old should be vaccinated against the flu. (The
flu shot is not approved for use in children less than
6 months old.)
The Studies
Two studies published in 2000 showed the same results:
that otherwise healthy children under 2 years old were
more likely to be hospitalized for serious influenza complications
than older, healthy children. These studies were published
in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal
of Pediatrics.
Based on this information, the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) – a group that advises CDC on vaccinations – first
moved to “encourage” vaccination among this
age group. This season, that was strengthened to a “recommendation,” which
is the strongest endorsement for vaccination.
Influenza-Related Deaths in Children Last Season
During last year’s influenza season, CDC received
reports of 152 influenza-related deaths among children
(people under 18 years old) from 40 states.
- All of these children had influenza infection diagnosed
by laboratory tests.
- Most of the children were less than 5 years old.
- Twenty-seven percent of the children had a condition
that placed them at high risk for serious complications
from influenza and were recommended for vaccination
by ACIP. Thirty-one percent had some other underlying
medical condition. Forty percent of the children were
previously healthy.
- Of the 135 children who died that could have been vaccinated,
only 5 were “adequately” vaccinated against
influenza. Seventy-six children had not been vaccinated
against influenza at all.
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