A: In the United States each year an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized because of flu complications. To reduce the risk of hospitalization from complications of influenza, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommend routine annual influenza vaccination of children older than 6 months. However, annual vaccination of all children aged 6 months–4 years (59 months) and older children with conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from influenza should continue to be a primary focus of vaccination efforts. By law, children age 6 months through 4 years who attend a licensed child care program and children age 24 months through 4 years who attend school must now receive an annual flu vaccination.
A: Most flu vaccine is distributed to health care providers (HCPs) by October and November each year so most HCPs should have their supplies at that time.
We also know that public requests for flu vaccine peaks around September–December.
If we can get a majority of children immunized within that four month timeframe, it will make monitoring the immunization status of a large number of children more manageable by the school or public health agency.
A: According to the CDC recommended immunization schedule 2008, administer 2 doses (separated by 4 weeks or longer) to children younger than 9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who were vaccinated for the first time last season but only received one dose. Only one dose is recommended per flu season thereafter for children 6 months and over. The CT immunization regulation requires at a minimum 1 dose of influenza vaccine for school entry, each year between August 1st and December 31. Click here for more information on influenza vaccines,
A: Children who have not received the flu vaccine by December 31st must be excluded from school for the duration of influenza season (through March 31st) or until they receive at least one dose of the influenza vaccine.
A: If a HCP cannot provide the flu vaccine within the given time frame of August 1–December 31st, documentation stating that the child has an appointment to receive the flu vaccine from his or her HCP would be acceptable. Barring that there is no national flu vaccine shortage and a HCP cannot guarantee an adequate supply of flu vaccine, other alternatives must be sought by the family. Options include:
A: In the event of a national or state vaccine supply shortage, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Public Health Commissioner, respectively, the Commissioner or his or her designee may temporarily suspend the immunization requirement for the particular immunization affected by the supply shortage.
A: Influenza season generally occurs during November through the end of March.
A: No, students enrolling in school after March 31st are not required to get vaccinated but flu season may extend until May and therefore getting a flu vaccine even late in the season is still protective.
A: Most single dose vials or syringes of influenza vaccine do not contain the preservative, thimerosal. The live, attenuated, influenza vaccine, (Brand Name: FluMist) given intra-nasally, is thimerosal-free.
For a listing of thimerosal content in U.S. licensed vaccines, go to: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/thimerosal-and-vaccines
For more information about vaccine safety and thimerosal, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/thimerosal.html
A: All people age 6 months and older are now recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination beginning with the 2010–2011 influenza season. Annual vaccination should begin as soon as the 2010–11 influenza vaccine is available.