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Young Kids Twice as Likely to Get the Flu as Adults Courtesy of ARAcontent  |
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 (ARA) - School-age children would rather do chores, take a test or do homework than have to stay at home sick, according to the recent MedImmune Parent-Child Influenza Survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Being sick, they say, makes them feel bored, annoyed, gross and even sad. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates 38 million school days are missed each year by kids sick with the flu - that’s a lot of unhappy children.
Parents can help kids avoid missing school because of the sniffles, aches and pains associated with the flu by making sure they get a flu vaccination every year as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is even more emphasis on this for the 2008-2009 season, as an advisory panel for the CDC recently expanded its flu vaccination recommendations to include all school-age children through 18 years of age. And, they recommend kids be vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available for the season.
“Unfortunately, while many parents are aware that they can have their children vaccinated against the flu, according to a recent flu survey, too few parents think their children need to be,” says Dr. Norman "Chip" Harbaugh, a pediatrician with the Children's Medical Group in Atlanta. “It’s important that parents understand that the flu can be a serious illness and they should act now to vaccinate their children.”
If flu vaccine is available at your health care provider’s office when your kids go in for back-to-school check-ups, sports physicals or annual well-child visits, see if you can check flu vaccination off of your “to-do” list for the fall. Many offices and clinics may already have a supply of the needle-free, nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal), which is approved for eligible people 2 to 49 years of age and has been shown to help provide protection throughout the flu season, even when administered early. By vaccinating during already-scheduled visits more children can be protected, which is especially important given the expanded flu recommendations.
Regardless of which kind of influenza vaccine option you choose, the important thing is to get vaccinated -- every year. This is especially important for young children, who are twice as likely as adults to get the flu each year. The flu is more than just a cold, it’s a contagious disease that can be easily transmitted from person to person. In addition to fever, sore throat and headache, flu symptoms may also include fatigue and muscle aches that can last for more than two weeks.
Visit www.FluMist.com for more information FluMist, availability in your area as well as important safety information and complete prescribing information.
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