Originally published February 26 2006
CDC considers a major change to its flu vaccination policy
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Raymond Strikas, a top flu specialist at the CDC, discusses the pending decision on whether the center will vaccinate children, ages 2 to 6, against the flu.
A decision on whether to give flu shots to children 2 to 6 years old is expected by the end of the year, disease trackers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday at a flu vaccine summit.
Already, federal guidelines advise flu immunizations for children 6 months to 23 months old because they are especially prone to complications from the respiratory illness.
''A lot of people think it makes sense to routinely offer influenza vaccine to more children," said Dr. Raymond Strikas, a top flu specialist at the CDC.
US health guidelines strongly urge that senior citizens, the very young, and the chronically ill be vaccinated against seasonal flu.
(The flu vaccine is not considered safe for infants under 6 months.)
Although that policy does not recommend shots for healthy adults under 65 and children over 2, there's no medical reason in most cases that they can't receive vaccine.
This year, about 86 million doses of vaccine are expected to be produced, but the CDC estimates that 180 million Americans are either at serious risk of complications from the flu, or have contact with those high-risk patients.
But with vaccine manufacturers promising to substantially increase the number of shots they make for future flu seasons, disease specialists are reviewing research to determine whether vaccinating children ages 2 to 6 makes sense.
Among the studies the federal specialists said they will review: a Harvard Medical School report that suggests 3- and 4-year-olds often spur flu outbreaks, showing respiratory symptoms weeks earlier than other children.
The Harvard and Children's Hospital Boston researchers have said they believe 3- and 4-year-olds should be routinely vaccinated to prevent spreading flu to older children and adults.
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