Most Kids Not Getting Second Dose of Flu Vaccine

Written by dad - 2 Comments

According to the CDC, kids between the ages of 6 months and 8 years that haven’t ever received a flu vaccine are supposed to get two doses their first time around, and these doses should be given a month (or more) apart. The problem is that most kids haven’t been getting their second dose… According to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, only 29% of kids between the ages of six months and two years got their second dose of the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) during the 2003-2004 flu season. And the compliance rate was even worse for 2 to 8 year olds, with just 12% of kids getting their second dose. The whole point of the second dose is that it helps to elicit the antibody response, and thus both doses should be given before the onset of flu season. If your kids got a flu shot for the first time this fall, and they fall between the ages of six months and eight year old, then be sure to get them in for that second shot — it’s not too late (yet).

[Source: CNN/Health]

Published on November 14th, 2006 - 2 Comments
Filed under: Health
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Comments (scroll down to add your own):

I got flu shots for my kids the first time and was told to get the second shot. But then when I called to verify getting the second shot, they are now out of the flu shots. They hope to get more in December. Which means I have to remember to call back and set up another appt. They won’t make appts until they have the shots. No wonder people miss getting the second shot for their kids.
Comment by vw bug — Nov 14th 2006 @ 8:49 pm
That’s actually a great point, and I haven’t seen it addressed anywhere… If there’s barely enough vaccine to get the first shot, what hope is there of getting the second round?
Comment by dad — Nov 16th 2006 @ 7:43 am

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