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October 4, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"CDC: Babies, Toddlers Should Get Flu Shot This Year"

Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com) (10/03/02); Mulvihill, Keith

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging flu shots for healthy babies and toddlers, their household contacts, and out-of-home caretakers, starting in October.  Although previously only young children at high-risk for influenza-related complications were recommended to get the vaccine, the CDC's flu expert Dr. Scott Harper noted that even generally health children between the ages of six months and 23 months are at greater risk for flu-related hospitalizations. Harper added that while not always perceived to be dangerous, the flu takes the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year and sends over 100,000 to the hospital.

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