US Government flu vaccine recommendations

September 23, 2008

Government flu vaccine recommendations

By The Associated Press, 4:30 PM EDT, September 8, 2008

The nation is set to receive between 143 million and 146 million doses

of flu vaccine this fall, a record amount that comes as the government

is urging more children than ever to be inoculated.

Each year, influenza causes 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000

deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses are at

greatest risk for severe illness, but the CDC recommends that a wide

variety of people get vaccinated:

—All children between ages 6 months and 18 years, unless they have a

serious egg allergy. Until now, flu vaccine was recommended for

children under 5 or those with chronic illnesses such as asthma. The

expanded recommendation takes into account that healthy school-age

children have higher rates of flu than other age groups.

—Adults 50 and older.

—People of any age with certain lung, heart or other chronic

disorders, or a weakened immune system.

—Women of any age who will be pregnant during flu season.

—Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.

—Health care workers.

—Parents or other caregivers of people with high-risk conditions.

—Choices include standard flu shots for all ages, and the nasal

vaccine FluMist, which can be used in health people ages 2 to 49.

The CDC says there should be plenty of flu vaccine available despite

the extra influx of children. While 140 million doses were

manufactured last year, just under 113 million were actually distributed.

Many pediatricians already had ordered vaccine by the time CDC added

school-age children to the list. While acknowledging that they may not

be ready to fully vaccinate this group until next year, CDC is urging

them to try — and encouraging more programs that provide flu vaccine

in schools, with parents' permission.

Hawaii has announced a " Stop Flu at School " program to offer free flu

vaccination at elementary and middle schools statewide.

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