Health Experts and Families Encourage Annual Childhood Flu Vaccination to Reduce Flu-Related Illnesses and Deaths i...(More than 300 children have died from in...),Health

"Today we are strongly encouraging all parents to vaccinate their children against the flu," said Richard Kanowitz, president of Families Fighting Flu. Kanowitz's four-year-old daughter, Amanda, died suddenly in March 2004 from influenza; Amanda had not been vaccinated against the flu. "Before our daughter died, we had no idea that healthy children could die from the flu -- a virus that may be avoided with a simple annual vaccination. We sincerely hope that Children's Flu Vaccination Day will serve to educate parents about the critical importance of annual flu vaccination in children, and motivate them to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible. A simple shot could very well save your child's life."

About Influenza

Influenza, or "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs). The flu virus tends to spread from November to April, with most cases occurring between December and March. The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually one to four days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and congestion associated with a cold. Influenza is often accompanied with fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also common symptoms in children. A person infected with the flu virus will typically suffer from the illness for approximately seven to 10 days, with five to six days of limited activity and about three days of bed rest.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Any child older than 6 months old can get vaccinated against influenza. The
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