Officials say they can't predict how severe this year's influenza will be. However, the illness kills about 36,000 Americans sends 200,000 to the hospital. More than 80 children died from influenza last year. Public health officials are urging children in the United States to get a flu shot. The flu vaccinations are recommended for children as young as six months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are 143 million doses of the vaccine available.

Health Officials Urge Flu Vaccinations for Children

By Rob Adams
Sep 25, 2008 01:59 AM GMT
Officials say they can't predict how severe this year's influenza will be. However, the illness kills about 36,000 Americans sends 200,000 to the hospital. More than 80 children died from influenza last year.

Public health officials are urging children in the United States to get a flu shot. The flu vaccinations are recommended for children as young as six months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are 143 million doses of the vaccine available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children between the ages of 6 months and 18 should receive a flu shot this year. The recommendations are also supported by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The number of children targeted for flu vaccinations has increased by about 30 million.

Health experts hope the result will slash the amount of time children and parents stay home from school and work to treat influenza. School-age children have the highest rate of influenza.

"Flu is very transmissible in school," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC. "This is truly an effort not only to improve the individual health of children but to affect the population of children as they congregate in schools and day care."

The CDC recommends that people should start getting vaccinated this month. Officials said there are 143 million doses of the vaccine available.

Filed Under:   Flu News   Current Health News


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Officials say they can't predict how severe this year's influenza will be. However, the illness kills about 36,000 Americans sends 200,000 to the hospital. More than 80 children died from influenza last year.