Published:
Starting Flu Vaccination in August Could Help Protect Nearly 11 Million More Children During Scheduled Doctors' Visits
Starting Flu Vaccination in August Could Help Protect Nearly 11 Million More Children During Scheduled Doctors' Visits
HONOLULU, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Research presented at the annual meeting
of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) shows that by starting flu
vaccinations in August -- ahead of the start of the typical flu vaccination
season -- healthcare providers could reach an additional 10.7 million children
when these children are already in the doctor's office. The potential impact
of early vaccination was underscored by another study that found that less
than 20 percent of school-aged children between five and 18 years of age were
vaccinated in their pediatricians' offices during the past influenza season.
This study also showed that, on average, only about 40 percent of those
children recommended to receive two doses of influenza vaccine actually
received the second dose.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080505/NEM076 )
In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC)
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to expand flu
vaccination recommendations to include all children six months through 18
years of age. Previously, the recommendations were for vaccination of
children from six months to 59 months of age. The new guidelines add
approximately 30 million children to the recommended pediatric population to
be vaccinated annually against influenza.
"MedImmune is committed to doing all it can to support the ACIP's expanded
influenza vaccination recommendations and to work toward our common goal to
vaccinate more children against the flu each year," said John Trizzino, vice
president, vaccines. "The data presented at the PAS meeting highlight the
need to use every possible opportunity to improve vaccination rates and
compliance, including vaccinating children when they visit their healthcare
providers for back-to-school check-ups and sports physicals. We are focused
on delivering FluMist(R) (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal) into the
marketplace this year beginning in August."
Earlier Influenza Vaccination Could Reach Nearly 11 Million More Children
in Provider Offices
To examine the potential impact of early influenza vaccination, MedImmune
researchers analyzed the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a federally
funded survey of families, individuals, and medical providers that collects
data on health services utilized by Americans. They compared the number of
children who had at least one healthcare provider visit between October 1 and
December 31 (the traditional influenza vaccination period) to the number of
children who had at least one visit between August 1 and December 31. The
analysis found that by extending the flu vaccination season into August, an
additional 6.6 million children would have vaccination opportunity during a
well visit and 10.7 million children would have an opportunity to get a flu
vaccine during an already-existing provider visit (well or sick).
Flu Vaccination Rates in Pediatrician Offices Remain Low
Another study, presented by Praful U. Bhatt, M.D. ofLock Haven, PA,
assessed influenza vaccination use in pediatricians' offices. Researchers
selected a nationally representative sample of 44 pediatric practices in
advance of the 2007-2008 influenza season. In these offices, the mean
influenza vaccination rates were 37 percent in six to 23 month olds (1), 24
percent in 24 to 59 month olds, 19 percent in five to eight year olds, and 12
percent in nine to 17 year olds through February 29, 2008.
Additionally, the study looked at compliance with the recommendation that
children younger than nine years of age who have not been previously
vaccinated receive two doses of influenza vaccine at least four weeks apart.
Compliance rates for receiving the second dose were 55 percent (six to 23
months) (1), 43 percent (24 to 59 months) and 25 percent (five to eight years
of age).
The study also found that vaccination and compliance rates were higher in
practices that administered influenza vaccine for more months during the
vaccination season (starting earlier and ending later).
About FluMist
FluMist is a live attenuated influenza virus vaccine indicated for active
immunization of individuals two to 49 years of age against influenza disease
caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine.
FluMist is contraindicated in individuals with history of hypersensitivity
to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine or with
life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, and in children
and adolescents receiving concomitant aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy.
Do not administer FluMist to children less than two years of age due to an
increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing that was observed in clinical
trials. FluMist should not be administered to any individual with asthma and
to children less than five years of age with recurrent wheezing unless the
potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. Do not administer FluMist to
individuals with severe asthma or active wheezing.
If Guillain-Barre syndrome has occurred with prior influenza vaccination
or if an individual is immunocompromised, the decision to give FluMist should
be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.
FluMist should not be administered to individuals with underlying medical
conditions predisposing them to wild-type influenza infection complications
unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. FluMist should be
given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Most common adverse reactions (occurring in 10 percent or more of
individuals receiving FluMist and at a rate at least five percent higher than
in those receiving placebo) are runny nose or nasal congestion in recipients
of all ages, fever more than 100 degrees F in children two to six years of
age, and sore throat in adults.
FluMist may not protect all individuals receiving the vaccine. FluMist is
for intranasal administration only.
Please see complete Prescribing Information for FluMist, call
1-877-FLUMIST (1-877-358-6478) or visit
http://www.flumist.com/prescribing-information.aspx for additional
information.
About MedImmune
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical
options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. Dedicated to
advancing science and medicine to help people live better lives, the company
is focused on infection, oncology, respiratory disease and inflammation,
cardiovascular/gastrointestinal disease, and neuroscience. With approximately
3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters inMaryland, MedImmune is wholly
owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit
MedImmune's website at www.medimmune.com.
(1) Do not administer FluMist to children less than two years of age due
to an increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing observed in clinical
trials.
SOURCE MedImmune
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: Tags: Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Health, , hawaii
_ _
Search News
Daily News
