Influenza vaccination rates in young children improved, but were still low, two years after the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) encouraged universal vaccination for this age group in 2002, new research shows.

The ACIP suggested that when feasible, all children between 6 and 23 months of age as well as their direct and regular contacts should receive annual influenza vaccinations. Starting in the 2004-2005 influenza season, this “encouragement” was upgraded to “recommendation” status.

In the present study, Dr. T. A. Santibanez and colleagues, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, analyzed data from a national survey to determine childhood influenza vaccination coverage for the 2003-2004 influenza season. The researchers’ findings appear in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

During the study period, 17.5 percent of children between 6 and 23 months of age received at least one influenza vaccine and just 8.4 percent were fully vaccinated against influenza, “based on ACIP recommendations for 2 doses of influenza vaccines for previously unvaccinated children aged less than 9 years and 1 dose for previously vaccinated children aged less than 9 years.”

The percentage of children receiving at least one influenza vaccine varied widely by state and urban area, ranging from 5.7 percent for Miami-Dade County in Florida to 47.6 percent for Rhode Island. Regarding full vaccination rates, Marion County in Indiana had the lowest at 2.0 percent, while Rhode Island again had the highest at 29.1 percent.

“This report underscores the need to fully implement the new recommendation for children aged 6 to 23 months and household contacts of children less than 2 years old to reduce the number of preventable influenza-related hospitalizations among children,” the researchers emphasize.

In a synopsis released to the media, the CDC said: “Efforts should continue during February to vaccinate young children with the recommended number of doses.”

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, February 3, 2006.