Influenza

Children need influenza immunization, too

Pediatric influenza recommendations have been expanding in recent years. Recommendations have long been in place calling for vaccination of all children 6 months and older who have underlying conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and immunosuppression .[CDC 2005] Then, because they too are at increased risk of influenza-related complications including hospitalization, all healthy children 6 through 23 months of age were recommended for annual influenza vaccination. Most recently, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that this age range be expanded to include all children 6 months to 5 years of age. [CDC 2006]

NFID has long advocated for the health of our nation's children and has supported expanded influenza recommendations, including an eventual universal recommendation. Influenza kills an average of 36,000 Americans annually [CDC 2005]; while mortality is highest in elderly persons, deaths do occur in children. During the 2003-2004 season, 153 deaths in children younger than 18 years were reported to the CDC.[Bhat] On average, influenza hospitalizes over 200,000 American annually with those at the extremes of age at similar risk.[Thompson, Neuzil 2000 J Ped, Neuzil 2000 NEJM]

In addition to protecting children against influenza and its related morbidity and mortality, pediatric vaccination will also likely protect other high-risk persons as children appear to be an important vector of influenza transmission.[Glezen] During an influenza epidemic, school absenteeism peaks before industrial absenteeism and pediatric hospitalizations and pneumonia admissions peak in children in advance of similar peaks in adults. Administering influenza vaccine to school-aged children has also been shown to have an effect on mortality in older persons.[Reichert]

It is becoming increasingly clear that children and society as a whole will benefit from expanded pediatric influenza vaccination efforts.

Increasing Influenza Immunization Rates in Infants and Children: Putting Recommendations Into Practice

» Increasing Influenza Immunization Rates in Infants and Children

References

Bhat N, Wright JG, Broder KR, et al. Influenza-associated deaths among children in the United States, 2003-2004. N Engl J Med 2005;353:2559-2567.

CDC. Prevention and control of influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2005;54 (No. RR-8):1-42.

CDC. Estimated influenza vaccination coverage among adults and children--United States, September 1, 2004-January 31, 2005. MMWR 2005;54 (12):304-307.

CDC. CDC's Advisory Committee Recommends Expanded Influenza Vaccinations for Children. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060223.htm. Accessed March 7, 2006.

Glezen WP, Couch RB. Interpandemic influenza in the Houston area, 1974-76. N Engl J Med 1978;298(11):587-592.

Neuzil KM, Wright PF, Mitchel EF Jr, Griffin MR. The burden of influenza illness in children with asthma and other chronic medical conditions. J Pediatr 2000;137:856-864.

Neuzil KM, Mellen BG, Wright PF, Mitchel EF Jr, Griffin MR. The effect of influenza on hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and courses of antibiotics in children. N Engl J Med 2000;342:225-231.

Reichert TA, Sugaya N, Fedson DS, Glezen WP, Simonsen L, Tashiro M. The Japanese experience with vaccinating schoolchildren against influenza. N Engl J Med 2001;344:889-896.

Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, et al. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA 2004;292:1333-1340.