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Many Not Getting Recommended Flu Shots
At least half of children between ages 6 months and 5 years aren't receiving influenza vaccine, according to a CDC press briefing and wire reports released Wednesday.
The agency said that although low, the vaccination rate for children aged 6 months to 2 years nearly doubled during 2004-2005 -- the first season during which flu vaccine was recommended for this age group -- compared with the preceding flu season, when only 18% received one or more doses.
The CDC said the vaccination rate for people 65 and older was about 63% last winter, down from 68% the previous year. Pneumococcal vaccination rates in this population remained steady at about 64% for both years.
A telephone survey in September, conducted for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, found that about half of Americans say they plan to get influenza vaccination this season. The same survey found that many Americans mistakenly think that by December, it's too late to get a flu shot.
Link: CDC press release (Free)
Link: Associated Press story (Free)
Link: Latest ACIP guidelines on flu prevention and control (Free PDF)
Published in Physician's First Watch October 5, 2006
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