Studies Suggest That Infants Should Get Flu Vaccinations

Young children are hospitalized for complications of influenza as frequently as the elderly, and doctors should consider routine vaccination against flu in infants, according to two new studies in today’s New England Journal of Medicine. Federal guidelines already recommend immunization of infants over the age of 6 months who have chronic medical problems, such as asthma and diabetes.

Two teams at the University of Washington and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that healthy infants under age 2 were 12 times as likely to be hospitalized for the flu as children between ages 5 and 12. Vaccination has also been shown to reduce the incidence of middle ear infections by as much as 30%.

Critics argue however, that infants already receive 16 vaccinations, and that giving millions of children annual flu shots raises questions of logistics, safety and cost-effectiveness. Some say widespread flu vaccinations should not be attempted until a new nasal spray vaccine is approved.

--Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II