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Flu vaccine now recommended for school-age children
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[link to www.kare11.com]
You don't expect giggling when kids get the flu vaccine, but the Sorenson girls were giddy they were getting FluMist and not a shot today. They stopped by the Partners in Pediatrics clinic in Maple Grove today with their mom and laughed while each one of them got the nasal spray vaccine. The oldest, 9-year-old Marcella says, "It's like tingly in your nose. It's really fun." And now for the first time ever, the Centers for Disease Control is recommending all school-age kids, those ages 5 to 18, get the flu shot or mist. Added to previous recommendations, the flu vaccine is now recommended for all kids ages six months and up. Partners in Pediatrics pediatrician, Dr. Howard Bach says, "At this point in time, compared to previous years, we've given out many, many more flu vaccines than we typically have in the past." Dr. Kristin Nichol, Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the VA Medical Center, is a non-voting member of the CDC Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices that made the new recommendations. She says, "We know that they [school-age children] commonly develop influenza and vaccination is safe and prevents influenza in that group." Nichol says the recommendation protects others too. "We believe that school-age children play a very important role in spreading influenza, not only in the household but in the community." This year Health Fair 11 is once again holding Flu Fighter clinics at all Cub Food Stores in Minnesota and will be giving flu shots to people as young as 4. In the past there were people who chose not to get the vaccine, feeling there were others who needed it more. But there's no need to step aside. Instead, Dr. Nichol says, step in line because this year there is more vaccine than ever, nearly 150 million doses. Nichol says, "There should be plenty of vaccine to immunize everybody who wishes to avoid influenza and my advice is for everyone think about getting vaccinated. This is a great year to do it." If you want FluMist for your children, contact your pediatrician.
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