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Feb. 23, 2006 -- A CDC committee is now recommending annual flu vaccines for all children aged 6 months to 5 years.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made the recommendation, which is pending formal approval. Previously, the CDC recommended flu vaccines for babies who are 6-23 months old.
The ACIP also recommended expanding flu vaccination recommendations for in-home and out-of-home caregivers of children aged 6 months to 5 years.
"This is an important recommendation to help reduce the overall burden of influenza among children," says Anne Schuchat, MD, in a news release. She directs the CDC's National Immunization Program.
In addition to vaccinating children 6-23 months, Schuchat says "vaccination of children 24-59 months old will likely reduce the risk of influenza-related complications for all children in this age group, not just those identified as those with the highest risk of complications from influenza."
Vaccination of all children with certain medical conditions -- including asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems -- continues to be strongly recommended by the ACIP. The CDC recommends two doses for children younger than 9 years old who will be receiving the flu vaccine for the first time.
The ACIP will continue to review new flu vaccination strategies, including the possibility of expanding routine flu vaccination recommendations to the entire U.S. population, states the CDC's news release.
SOURCE: News release, CDC.