Video: Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition Supports Second Annual Children's Flu Vacci...( BETHESDA Md. Dec. 9 /- The National F...),Health

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' (NFID) Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition (CIIC) is pleased to support the second annual Children's Flu Vaccination Day (Tuesday, December 9), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Influenza Vaccination Week. The Coalition applauds CDC and Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (FFF) for establishing this day, which emphasizes the need to vaccinate children and their contacts against influenza throughout December and into the New Year.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ciic/34896/

Influenza claims the lives of nearly 100 children every year in the United States, and puts about 20,000 in the hospital. Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among children. The virus often spreads rapidly in schools, due in large part to the students' close proximity throughout the day, and their sub-optimal hygiene habits. While people younger than 5 years of age are most vulnerable to complications from influenza, influenza's impact on older children is also substantial, resulting in school absenteeism, costly medical visits and lost workdays for parents.

"The importance of vaccinating children and their contacts against influenza cannot be overstated," said Dr. Carol J. Baker, Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine and Moderator, NFID's Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition. "What's most troubling about the grim statistics on childhood influenza is that the disease is preventable through vaccination."

The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all children 6 months through 18 years of age receive the influenza vaccine every year. This expanded recommendation increases
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