2010-2011 Influenza Season

All U.S. children aged
6 months through their 19th birthday should get the influenza vaccine
every year.

• Children commonly need medical care because of influenza, especially before they turn 5 years old.
• Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications.
• Flu seasons vary in severity, however some children will die from flu each year. From 2003-2004 to 2009-2010, pediatric deaths reported to CDC ranged from 46 to 153 per year. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, more than 340 deaths in children were reported to CDC from April 26, 2009 to May 22, 2010.
• Severe influenza complications are most common in children younger than 2 years old.
• Children with chronic health problems like asthma and diabetes are at especially high risk of developing serious flu complications.
  
  Read more on this topic from the Centeres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Special Instructions for Children Being Vaccinated Against Flu for the First Time
All children 6 months through 8 years of age are recommended to receive 2 doses of 2010-11 flu vaccine unless they have received:

1. at least 1 dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine last flu season, and
2. at least 1 dose of seasonal vaccine prior to the 2009-2010 flu season or 2 doses of seasonal flu vaccine last flu season

If possible, the first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given 28 or more days after the first dose. The first dose "primes" the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. Children who only get one dose but need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine. Two doses are necessary to protect these children. If your child needs two doses, begin the process early, so that children are protected before influenza starts circulating in your community. Be sure to follow up to get your child a second dose if they need one. It usually takes about two weeks after the second dose for protection to begin.

Because seasonal flu viruses change every year, the vaccine is updated annually. So even if you or your children got a flu vaccine last year, you both still need to get a flu vaccine this season to remain protected. If October and November slip by, and you haven’t gotten your children or yourself vaccinated, get vaccinated in December or later.

Additional Resources

		Alanas Flu Foundation is to educate the public about the importance of yearly influenza (flu) vaccinations. The organization is dedicated to the memory Alana Yaksich, a 5 1/2 year old healthy girl, who died from the flu. Read more...
		The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website contains information on the danger of flu to children and vaccine recommendations. Read more...
		Families Fighting Flu is a non-profit, volunteer-based corporation dedicated to educating people about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year. The website contains stories of families whose children have died from flu, along with vacine information and resources. Read more...
		Say “Boo!” to the Flu is a national campaign created to increase the number of families vaccinated against the flu nationwide and educate them on other simple prevention tricks. Find information and friendly activies about flu prevention on this website. Read more...