Groups urge universal childhood flu vaccination
A broad coalition of 122 organizations representing public health, private providers, advocacy and educational groups, and persons affected by disease, has urged the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to move forward this year with recommendations for universal childhood vaccination against influenza to include all children and teens through age 18. The groups say too many Americans "remain vulnerable to the serious effects of influenza disease because current recommendations do not go far enough. We strongly support an immediate recommendation for routine influenza vaccination of school-aged children through 18 years of age. Targeted vaccination strategies in children are falling well short of goals. In the 2004-05 influenza season, more than half of children aged six months to 23 months did not receive vaccine. Among children aged five to 17 years who were household contacts of high-risk persons, only 10.8% were vaccinated."
They said vaccinating children against flu reduces its spread in households and communities, and helps protect those at high risk of flu complications from acquiring the disease. A letter to the ACIP chairman and executive secretary said vaccination of school-age children in Japan provided protection and reduced morality from flu in older persons. Recent school-based vaccination efforts in the U.S. have lowered flu-like symptoms and outcomes in households where children were vaccinated, the letter says. A universal recommendation for routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons through age 18 would simplify the current targeted recommendations, the letter said, sustain and build manufacturing capacity, and provide benefits to individuals by reducing morbidity and mortality, providing herd immunity protection and enhancing vaccine access.
The groups said preliminary findings from discussions with public health and healthcare opinion leaders conducted by Emory University in Atlanta found support for universal flu vaccination in school-aged children. Public and private sector infrastructure supported expansion of routine influenza vaccination to children aged 6 to 59 months as vaccine supply increases and will continue to expand to support a recommendation for school-age children.
A broad coalition of 122 organizations representing public health, private providers, advocacy and educational groups, and persons affected by disease, has urged the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to move forward this year with recommendations for universal childhood vaccination against influenza to include all children and teens through age 18.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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