| ■ More Young U.S. Kids Need Flu Vaccine: Report | 06.12.15 |
| More needs to be done to boost the number of U.S. children aged 6 months to 23 months who should be fully vaccinated against influenza, says a report in the new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Beginning with the 2004-05 influenza season, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that all children aged 6-23 months receive flu vaccinations each year. Previously unvaccinated children younger than age 9 need two doses administered at least one month apart to be considered fully vaccinated. The report authors analyzed 2005-06 flu season data from six immunization information system (IIS) sentinel sites in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and the District of Columbia. They found a wide variation in coverage with one or more doses of flu vaccine, ranging from 6.6 percent to 60.4 percent, for children ages 6-23 months. At four of the six sites, vaccination coverage for this age group did increase from the previous flu season. However, fewer than 23 percent of children at five of the six sites were fully vaccinated, the report said. |