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December 04, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Flu Season Could Be Particularly Nasty: Fewer People Seeking Preventive Shots" Houston Chronicle (www.chron.com) (12/03/02) P. A23; Hopper, Leigh

An outbreak of the flu among several school districts near Dallas, Texas, prompted officials to close early for Thanksgiving break, and Houston health officials predict the virus will hit there soon.  Vaccination rates are lower this year, and because of this, the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared the first two weeks of December the "National Influenza Vaccination Catch-Up." High-risk patients are at the top of the concern list, and physicians are being urged to check their records to see if those patients have been vaccinated this year.  The Hong Kong flu strain, which is included in this year's vaccine, was behind part of the Texas outbreak.  Officials say the vaccine could have prevented the illness; however, children traditionally have not been immunized.  On Monday, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines, encouraging flu shots for children between the ages of six months and 23 months.

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