Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition Issues New Report to Help Improve Low Childhood Influenza Immuniza...( New Coalition Web Site Launched to P...),Health

New Coalition Web Site Launched to Provide Educational Resources to Health Care Professionals, Parents and Media About Serious Nature of Influenza,

Importance of Annual Immunization

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition (CIIC) has launched a Web site, http://www.PreventChildhoodInfluenza.org, to support its newly issued report that calls for improved childhood influenza immunization rates in the United States. The Coalition, made up by 25 of the nation's leading public health, medical, patient and parent groups, was formed in 2007 by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to make childhood immunization a national health priority and to educate parents about childhood influenza and the benefits of annual immunization.

Disturbed by low influenza immunization rates of only 20.6 percent among recommended children, the Coalition issued the new report, "Improving Childhood Influenza Immunization Rates to Protect Our Nation's Children" (available online). The report highlights the need to improve immunization rates among children of all ages and outlines strategies for health care professionals and parents to take to improve immunization rates among this vulnerable population.

In addition, the Coalition developed a new Web site, http://www.PreventChildhoodInfluenza.org, designed to help educate health care professionals as well as parents, guardians and other caregivers about the serious nature of influenza and the importance of annual immunization for children. Beyond its educational messages, the Web site provides materials designed to help health care professionals to reach those in need of annual influenza vaccination.

"Annual influenza immunization is safe and protects our children from disease. Many children across
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