MDNews - Cleveland-Akron-Canton

FULL INFLUENZ A VACCINATION COVER AGE OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN THE UNITED STATES REMAINS AL ARMINGLY LOW, ACCORDING TO RECENT ESTIMATES. Walk the Walk In his research, Richard K. Zimmerman, MD, MPH, Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, has found that the vaccination status of patients in a physician's offi ce directly correlates to the vaccination status of the staff. In other words, if the nurses don't get their fl u shots, neither will the patients, suggest- ing staff should be sure to receive their vaccinations. A Case for Improvement BY HANNAH STUART DE SPITE A N INCRE A SE of nearly 40 percent in full vaccination from the 2002–2003 inf luenza season to the 2011–2012 season, a study by researchers at the CDC found the rate at the end of that period was still only 44.7 percent. Researchers reviewed data from the National Immunization Survey, a telephone survey of homes with young children. "After the telephone interview, they ask the parents to name all the vaccination providers," says Tammy Santibanez, PhD, epidemiologist at the CDC and one of the researchers. "The study did show there was an increase from when infl uenza vaccination was fi rst recommended for all children 6–23 months, ... but 10 years in, by the '11-'12 season, only 45 percent of these children 6–23 months were fully vaccinated." Throughout all 10 seasons examined, rates of full vaccination were lower among non-Hispanic black children and Hispanic children than among non- Hispanic white children, with non-Hispanic black children at 35 percent, Hispanic children at 40 percent and non-Hispanic white children at 49 percent. Across the board, one key reason for low vaccina- tion rates is parents who are not aware that one dose of infl uenza vaccine is insu¡ cient. "Many parents may not realize that a child needs two doses in the fi rst year they're vaccinated," says Richard K. Zimmerman, MD, MPH, Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. "What we've learned from fl u vaccination is that the immune system needs experience with fl u virus before it responds well." EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION Santibanez stresses that educating parents on the importance of vaccination is one of the most e… ective ways of increasing the infl uenza vaccination rate. She also encourages providers to refresh themselves on the guidelines annually as to whether a child requires one or two doses, as these guidelines can change with each fl u season. Dr. Zimmerman says scheduling an appointment for the second dose of fl u vaccine before parents leave the o¡ ce after their fi rst appointment is a good idea as well. "That 's probably the best, and then [sending parents] reminders," he says. "Have that scheduled [second] visit be convenient as an in-and-out, nurse- based vaccination." ■ Age Discrepancy A January 2016 survey in the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found that of 1,367 parents polled, 52 percent reported their child between the ages of 6 months and 18 years had been vaccinated against infl uenza, with 60 percent of children between the ages of 1 and 5 receiving a vaccination. Infl uenza Vaccination among Young Children: 1 6

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