Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition Encourages Vaccination Throughout the Influe...(fantsyounger than 6 months of age cannot...),Health

Influenza comes on very suddenly. The symptoms usually include high fever, aches, chills, headache, cough, sore throat and a stuffy or blocked nose. Children, especially infants and toddlers, may have additional symptoms that adults usually don't experience, including ear aches, nausea and vomiting. People infected with influenza can spread the virus even before their symptoms appear and for five to seven days after. Children spread influenza for even longer.

About the Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition

The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition was established by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to protect infants, children and adolescents from influenza by communicating with "one strong voice" the need to make influenza immunization a national health priority. The Coalition seeks to address and improve the alarmingly low influenza immunization rates among children.

The Coalition has launched a new Web site, http://www.PreventChildhoodInfluenza.org, to provide parents, health care professionals and media with current information about influenza and influenza vaccination, along with tips for preparing children for vaccination, an influenza risk calculator and frequently asked questions about influenza vaccines.

Coalition members include Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Canyon Ranch Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Pre
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