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Nearly half of children who died of influenza had no prior medical conditions
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According to new data published in a recent MMWR report and presented at a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases press conference, 47% percent of the 107 pediatric influenza-related deaths reported last year occurred in children with no prior medical conditions. This news, along with the latest influenza vaccination coverage estimates, was presented by Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, and Paul A. Offit, MD, an Infectious Diseases in Children Editorial Board member, among other panel members.
According to the report, 46.2% of Americans aged at least 6 months were vaccinated during the 2013-2014 influenza season, an increase of 1.2 percentage points. Children aged younger than 5 years were vaccinated at a 70.4% rate.
Influenza vaccination rates among children aged 5 to 17 years increased by 3 percentage points to 55.3%. Coverage among pregnant women also increased and has remained consistent at about 50% for the past 2 years.
Offit discussed the importance of influenza vaccination among children, as a significant number of children who die of influenza have no prior medical conditions. The CDC now recommends the nasal spray vaccine as the preferred influenza vaccination for children aged 2 to 8 years if it is immediately available and there are no contraindications or precautions. However, if the nasal spray is not available, any other influenza vaccine will suffice, Frieden said.
Finally, Frieden reviewed the CDC’s three-step approach to fighting influenza:
Frieden and Offit, among other panelists, received their influenza vaccinations at the press conference, urging the public to take advantage of the ample vaccine supply and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
References:
Black CL. MMWR. 2014;63:805-811.