AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SUPPORTS NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) designation of November 27 – December 3 as National Influenza Vaccination Week.

Rates of influenza infection are highest among children, who frequently spread the disease throughout communities. Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to protect children, families, and communities from the flu and its complications.

The AAP encourages vaccination of all children between 6 and 59 months of age. The flu vaccine is also recommended for all children and adults who have certain diseases that put them at risk of serious complications from the flu and for any close contact or caretaker of someone in a high-risk group.

While flu vaccine should be given as early in the season as possible, doses given later in the season are still very effective. National Influenza Vaccination Week is a good reminder for parents to catch up on their children’s vaccinations.

CDC: National Influenza Vaccination Week

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.