CDC Points to 'Full-out Recommendation' on Seasonal Flu Vaccine for Children

All individuals ages 6 months to 18 years should be vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza, the CDC said in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released today. Not only do these children and teens stand to benefit, say CDC officials -- the entire population could remain healthier as a result.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, has been moving toward a broad annual flu vaccination recommendation for children for years. The ACIP recommended in 2004 that children ages 6 months to 23 months be vaccinated, and the recommendation was expanded to include children ages 24 months to 59 months in 2006.

Last year, the ACIP -- working in conjunction with the AAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics -- called for an expansion of annual influenza immunizations to include all children ages 6 months to 18 years beginning no later than the 2009-2010 flu season.

The phased-in approach was intended to give physicians time to plan for vaccinating a larger patient population.

"This past year's recommendations encouraged vaccination, and the plan has been that this year this would be a full recommendation -- no longer just an encouragement or 'where feasible,' but a full-out recommendation," said Anne Schuchat, M.D., director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in a July 24 media briefing.

According to the CDC, children typically have the highest attack rates during influenza outbreaks and are a major source of transmission. Thus, widespread vaccination of children potentially could decrease the incidence of infection among their close contacts and, consequently, reduce overall transmission.

The CDC said children ages 6 months to 8 years who have not previously been vaccinated against the annual flu should receive two doses four or more weeks apart. The agency also said children in this age group who received only one dose the first time they were vaccinated should receive two doses the following year.

Children younger than age 6 months cannot be vaccinated, but their household members and other close contacts should be, the CDC said.

CDC officials have said the seasonal flu vaccine will be available in August or September -- earlier than usual -- to clear the way for vaccinations for the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. That vaccine is expected to be available beginning in mid-October, pending FDA approval.

"Vaccination against seasonal influenza should begin as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season," Schuchat said. "At this point, 83 percent of the population is recommended to get an annual flu vaccine, and we recommend it for anyone who wants to reduce their risk of flu.

"Unfortunately, only about 40 percent of the U.S. population received the flu vaccine last year, so we're really recommending an intensifying use of this vaccine because it does protect against illness and complications like hospitalization and severe outcomes."

Schuchat also stressed that health care workers should be vaccinated to prevent spread of the flu to patients and co-workers. Less than half of health care workers are vaccinated annually, according to CDC.

"We have recommended health care workers get the seasonal flu vaccine for years," she said. "This year, in particular, we want to keep health care workers healthy, at work and able to care for sick patients."

Schuchat added that health care workers likely will be recommended to receive the H1N1 vaccine as well. ACIP members will meet July 29 to discuss recommendations for that vaccine.

According to the CDC, 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population develops seasonal influenza each year, leading to about 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths. The elderly, young children and people with chronic conditions are considered to be at high risk for complications.