CDC Urges Flu Vaccine Prevention for Children and Teens

Since 2004, states have been required to report influenza-associated deaths in children and teenagers. Using this data the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a report stressing the importance for flu vaccines for saving the lives of children and teens.

While the number of teens and children who die from flu-related causes is not substantial when compared to some other groups, the fact that many of the deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu has led to a strong recommendation from the CDC.

In the study the deaths of 115 people younger than 18, between September 2010 and August 2011 were examined.

“It′s vital that children get vaccinated,” said Dr. Lyn Finelli, chief of the CDC′s Surveillance and Outbreak Response Team. “We know the flu vaccine isn′t 100 percent effective, especially not in children with high risk medical conditions. That′s why it′s essential that these two medical tools be fully utilized. Vaccinate first; then use influenza antiviral drugs as a second line of defense against the flu. Right now we aren′t fully using the medical tools at our disposal to prevent flu illnesses and deaths in children.”

Data suggests that a number of people mistakenly believe that healthy children can withstand an episode of flu. However, the data shows that nearly half of the children who died during the flu season last year were considered healthy with no medical conditions which would have placed them in a more ‘high risk’ group.

Age itself appears to be a risk factor for flu-related death. Of the children who died, 46 percent were under the age of 5, and 29 percent under the age of 2 years.

According to the CDC, “this season′s influenza vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses, the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. These are the same three flu virus strains that were circulating in 2010–2011 – just the eighth time since 1969 this phenomenon has occurred. Moreover, it is important to note that vaccine immunity wanes over time so CDC is recommending that everyone get vaccinated this season, even if they got vaccinated last season, in order to be optimally protected.”