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Influenza Vaccination Season Lasts Longer Than Many Think

(NAPSI)-Each year, influenza and its related complications cause thousands of children to get sick, become hospitalized and miss school--and some even die. To help protect children from this serious disease, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' (NFID) Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition (CIIC) is urging parents to schedule an influenza vaccination this winter.

"Too many children across our nation are vulnerable to influenza infection because they are not vaccinated. Annual influenza immunization is safe and it is the best way to protect our children from the most common types of the influenza virus," said Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, CIIC Chair, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), President of Canyon Ranch Institute and Distinguished Professor of Public Health, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. "It's important for all of us to help encourage the vaccination of children and their close contacts."

Influenza vaccination is especially important for children and professionals in school and childcare settings because they are in close contact with other children, which can help spread the disease very quickly. Children may also be less likely to wash their hands frequently and "cover their coughs."

"Most people don't know that the influenza season typically peaks around February, and cases continue to be common for months after that, so getting immunized throughout the winter is beneficial for children and, in fact, for everyone," said Carol J. Baker, M.D., FAAP, FIDSA, CIIC Moderator, NFID President and Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine.

It takes approximately two weeks after vaccination to be fully protected against influenza, so parents, if they haven't already, should schedule a doctor's appointment to have their child and themselves immunized. Parents should also remember to plan ahead for children under 9 years of age who are getting vaccinated against influenza for the first time or who had only one dose in prior years. These children need two doses four weeks apart to get the best protection against influenza this season.

CIIC has launched a new Web site, www.PreventChildhoodInfluenza.org, to provide parents, caregivers and health care