Influenza: More Serious Than You May Think
Year after year, influenza continues to place a significant burden on society.1 It is responsible for up to 60 million infections annually in the United States (estimated attack rates range from 5% to 20%),2 resulting in approximately 25 million visits to doctors' offices and hospital stays.3 And while flu vaccines have been available for over half a century, influenza was the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children in the United States in the 2003-2004 influenza season.4
Vaccination rates in children are falling short of optimal goals
- During the 2004-2005 influenza season, more than half of children aged 6-23 months did not receive an influenza vaccination5
- Among children aged 5 to 17 who are household contacts of high-risk persons, only 10.8% were vaccinated5
Children are vectors for influenza transmission
Children play a significant role in transmitting influenza:
- By spreading the virus to their family members, classmates at day care or school, and the community at large (including the elderly and other high-risk populations)6
- A school-aged child is often the way most flu epidemics are spread6
School-aged children are the age group most likely to contract and spread influenza7:
- Children 5 to 14 years of age were approximately 4 times more likely to be infected with influenza than adults, including the elderly7
- The CDC/ACIP recommends that children who are household contacts of high-risk children or adults be vaccinated1
Average Annual Age-specific Influenza Rates*
*Derived combined rates for influenza types A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B over the course of 7 outbreaks during the years between 1976 and 1981 in Tecumseh, Michigan. Monto AS, Sullivan KM. Epidemiol Infect. 1993;110:145-160.
Substantial morbidity and mortality, even in healthy children4
Significant morbidity and mortality is seen in healthy children as well as in those at high risk. During the 2003-2004 influenza season:4
- 153 children died from influenza-related causes4
- 47% of these children were previously healthy
- 37% of influenza mortality cases occurred in children aged 5 to 17 years
Influenza Mortality in Children: 2003-2004
153 children aged < 18 years reportedly died of influenza-related causes*
*16% of children aged 6 months received at least 1 dose of the influenza vaccine.
26% of ACIP-defined high-risk children received at least 1 dose of the influenza vaccine.
Bhat N, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2559-2567.
Expanded ACIP recommendations for 2006-2007 influenza season
Children Aged 2 to 5 Years and Their Close Contacts8
During its February 2006 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded the original recommendation for vaccinating children aged 6 to 23 months to include children aged 24 to 59 months. The ACIP also recommends expanding routine influenza vaccination for household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged 24 to 59 months. Approximately 5.3 million more children and 11.4 million more healthy close contacts will be included in the new recommendations.
Initiate the "Vaccination Conversation" — and help increase vaccination rates
It's up to health care professionals like you to convince parents to vaccinate their children against the flu. In fact, studies have shown that 70% of children were vaccinated if the parents recalled a physician's recommendation, versus only 3% if they did not.9
Health care professionals can play a proactive role — not only in identifying children who are recommended by the ACIP for influenza vaccination, but in educating parents about the importance of vaccination. Combined with comprehensive vaccination strategies, your efforts will better help protect children, their families, and the entire community against influenza.
Learn about a vaccine that has demonstrated protection against influenza in clinical trials.
REFERENCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2005;54(RR-08):1-40.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (flu) fact sheet: key facts about influenza and the influenza vaccine. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/keyfacts.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2006.
Couch RB. Influenza: prospects for control. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133:992-998.
Bhat N, Wright J, Broder K, et al. Influenza-associated deaths among children in the United States, 2003-2004. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(24):2559-2567.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimates of influenza vaccination target population sizes in 2006 and recent uptake levels. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/pdf/targetpopchart.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2006.
Elveback LR, Fox JP, Ackerman E, Langworthy A, Boyd M, Gatewood L. An influenza simulation model for immunization studies. Am J Epidemiol. 1976;103:152-165.
Monto AS, Sullivan KM. Acute respiratory illness in the community. Frequency of illness and the agents involved. Epidemiol Infect. 1993;110:145-160.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC's advisory committee recommends expanded influenza vaccinations for children (press release). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060223.htm. Accessed June 19, 2006.
Poehling KA, Speroff T, Dittus RS, et al. Predictors of influenza virus vaccination status in hospitalized children. Pediatrics. 2001;108:E99.
Initiate the vaccination conversation with parents!
Studies have shown that 70% of children were vaccinated for influenza if parents recalled a physician's recommendation, versus only 3% if they did not.