Just look around any family gathering this winter and you’ll see it: Children are usually the first to come down with colds or flu.
In any given flu season, influenza attacks up to 40 percent of U.S. kids – the highest infection rate of any age group. The dubious distinction occurs because young children put everything in their mouths. Also, they haven’t had time to develop much immunity against common viral bugs.
This results in 150 susceptible children dying from influenza each year. Many had struggled with preceding chronic medical conditions. But another heart-wrenching statistic I’ve seen is that nearly half the deaths happen in previously healthy kids.
Fortunately, the flu vaccine can prevent some of these tragedies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has begun recommending an annual flu shot for all children aged 6 to 59 months (4 years and 11 months), starting this fall.
The committee also says that parents, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 5 years old should receive flu shots. This can help reduce flu transmission to young children, especially those under 6 months for whom the shot isn’t yet approved.
Previously, the committee said that all children ages 6 months to 23 months should be immunized against influenza. When important new data became available, however, the agency expanded its recommendations this year. The data revealed that rates of outpatient and emergency room visits for children aged 2 to 4 years are nearly identical to those for children aged 6 to 23 months. Babies and toddlers are known to be as susceptible to pneumonia and other complications of the flu as the oldest senior citizens.
Besides helping kids, giving more shots could have another advantage: Expanding the recommended age for flu shots to up to 5 years will help reduce the spread of the infection through the entire population. You see, research indicates that children are the main carriers of flu germs to family members and other contacts.
The advisory committee says that, in addition to all children under 5, certain older kids should receive flu shots. The committee recommends annual vaccination for children with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease, blood disorders, diabetes, or those taking chronic aspirin therapy. As an example, however, only one-third of the six million U.S. children with asthma are currently vaccinated against the flu.
Extensive studies in kids indicate that the flu shot is generally safe and effective. Side effects may include pain, redness and tenderness at the injection sight and, less commonly, muscle aches or fever. The vaccine is made by killing the influenza virus and cannot transmit an actual influenza infection. Since it’s prepared in chicken eggs, it isn’t recommended for kids who have severe allergies to eggs.
Children under 9 who are receiving the flu shot for the first time should get two doses, one month apart. That means parents should schedule the first dose early to ensure that the second dose can be given before flu season begins in November or December. Subsequently, only one dose of vaccine is needed each year.
Supposedly, this year there will be enough shots to provide protection for all the children who need it. If you’ve got a young child in the family, talk to your child’s doctor about having your child vaccinated against influenza this fall.
Contact Dr. Elizabeth Smoots, a board-certified family physician and fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, at doctor@practicalprevention .com. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Before adhering to any recommendations in this column, consult your health care provider.
2006 Elizabeth S. Smoots.
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