This flu season, even healthy kids urged to get shots

   MCT REGIONAL NEWS

   Sep. 25--The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that for the first time it is recommending flu shots for 30 million otherwise healthy schoolchildren.
   In past years, vaccine shortages meant the highest-risk individuals -- children between 6 months and 2 years of age, those over age 65 and those of all ages with chronic illness -- took priority.
   But with around 145 million doses of the vaccine this year -- as a shot or nasal mist -- there is enough to go around, said CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding.
   ``It's either going to be an advantage to you or an advantage to someone you care about,'' she said.
   Children are two to three times as likely to get the flu, and because many have not been exposed before, the illness can come on particularly strongly, said Dr. Renee Jenkins, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
   In 2007, 86 children nationwide died of flu complications -- half between 15 and 17 years old.
   Kids miss about three school days a year recovering from the flu, and parents lose about three workdays caring for them, said Dr. Matthew Davis, a University of Michigan associate pediatrics professor.
   Public health officials in Macomb County said preschools and grade schools fielded 31,474 calls from parents reporting flu-like symptoms in children during the December 2006 through March 2007 flu season.
   Calls about children made up half of the county's total flu call volume, said Macomb County public health official Sue Tremonti.
   In Oakland County, parent calls about school-age children with flu-like symptoms totaled 32,476 during the 2006-07 flu season, said Kathy Forzley, health division manager.
   Wayne County figures were not available late Wednesday.
   African Americans and Latinos are two groups that don't get vaccinated enough, said Dr. Cora Christian, an AARP board member. In Detroit, public health officials said they locate clinics in several spots, stay open late, and offer $10 vaccines.
   Medicaid and Medicare recipients are vaccinated for free, said Dawn Lukomski, immunization program director for Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion. The department has 35,000 vaccines available.
   The CDC also reported that 41% of health care workers were vaccinated last flu season, far below acceptable numbers.