A NATIONAL SURVEY OF PEDIATRICIANS:  ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS INFLUENZA VACCINATION  Kolasa M, Shefer A, O’Connor KG, Wood DL, Kempe A, Varrasso D, Thomas O.  Presented at the 2007 Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting. 

Background:  In 2004, influenza vaccination recommendations were expanded to include all children 6-24 months, and, in 2006 all children 6-59 months.

Objective:  Examine pediatricians’ attitudes and reported practices toward influenza vaccination. 

Design/Methods:  A national random sample, mailed Periodic Survey of American Academy of Pediatrics U.S. members, in 2006 (N=1620; response=53%). Questions assessed systems to identify target children and factors to consider in recommending influenza vaccination for all children.  Analysis was limited to 629 pediatricians who offer immunizations.

Results:  Most (96%) pediatricians offer influenza vaccination to patients >24 months at high risk for influenza-related complications.  The majority report no systematic method of identifying these patients, although nearly 40% use a list of children with eligible conditions.  About half of pediatricians usually or occasionally offer influenza vaccination to parent’s of at-risk children.  Factors that > two-thirds of pediatricians believe should strong or very strong considerations in recommending universal influenza vaccination of all children include risk of influenza-related complications, vaccine supply, availability of VFC vaccine, and feasibility for practices to implement recommendations. Most pediatricians thought there should be a universal recommendation for influenza vaccination of all children >24 months (65%) or were unsure (21%).