�A new survey of parents of
eight-to-17-year olds shows that vaccination ranks next to last among
things they believe they can do to aid protect against the grippe
virus. Although public health guidelines state that getting an yearbook flu
vaccination is the single charles Herbert Best way to prevent the flu, the survey showed
that parents ranked it nearly equally (56 pct) with practices such as
taking vitamins (58 percent) and stuffing appropriately for the endure (55
percent).(1,2) Despite 82 percent of the parents being mindful they can
vaccinate their child against the flu, less than half of parents (44
percent) say their minor has ever received an influenza vaccine.(1)
Furthermore, only about half (48 percent) suppose they were extremely or very
likely to have their child vaccinated following flu time of year even after learning
about expanded world health guidelines recommending that all children six
months to 18 years of age receive an annual flu vaccine.(1,2)
In the survey of 952 parents, for those with children not antecedently
vaccinated against the grippe, about three in 10 (32 pct) believe that
their child does non need to be immunised against the flu.(1)
Additionally, in a parallel survey of 875 school-age children (eight-to-17
years of age), only 40 per centum of children say that it is either exceedingly
or very important for them to receive an annual flu vaccine.(1) Around half
(47 per centum) of children also say that it is highly or identical important
that their parents receive an annual influenza vaccine.(1)
"Along with all the things that parents know are important for helping
keep their kids healthy -- like washing workforce and acquiring enough sleep --
flu vaccination should be correct up there, but this survey shows us that we
still have a lot of educating to do," aforesaid Anne Moscona, M.D., prof of
pediatric medicine and of microbiology and immunology, and vice hot seat of pedology
for research at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. "As a
community, we need to do a better job spread the discussion about how
important a yearly influenza vaccine can be in helping protect kids -- and
ourselves -- from influenza."
Federal Flu Vaccine Guidelines Expanded to Reach More Children The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that
getting an annual influenza vaccine is the single best agency to preclude the grippe.(3)
In February, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
expanded their annual influenza vaccination recommendations to include all
children six months to 18 age of age.(2)
According to the CDC, each year, up to 60 million Americans get the
flu. Resulting complications causa more than 200,000 hospitalizations and
about 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.(3)
New Campaign Launches to Educate Americans around Flu Vaccine Options "Flu Vaccination: Choose Your Administration" is an election-themed
campaign that aims to authorize and encourage Americans to make informed
decisions about flu vaccination. As part of the campaign, sponsored by
MedImmune, visitors to http://www.FluVote.com potty learn more about two of the most
important health choices they rear make this election/flu season: electing
to get a flu vaccination and learning more about flu vaccinum options.
Overall, about two out of three parents (67 percent) surveyed aver they
wish their minor could get a grippe vaccine without having to get a shot, and
about trey out of four school-age children (77 percent) say the same for
themselves.(1) Of those parents who receive previously had their child
vaccinated against the flu, nearly 4 out of 5 (78 percent) say they would
be extremely or identical willing to try a needle-free influenza vaccine for their
shaver if their doctor aforementioned it was okay.(1)
A large majority of parents of eight-to-17-year-olds (80 percent) ar
reliant on doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for
information about influenza vaccines, according to the survey.(1) In fact,
two-thirds (66 percent) indicate that a healthcare provider's
recommendation impacts their decision a capital deal or quite a bit when
determining whether or not to feature their child vaccinated against the
influenza.(1) Among parents wHO have of all time had their child immunized, half (53
percent) tell that their child received the influenza vaccine because their
child's healthcare supplier recommended it.(1)
About Influenza Influenza, commonly referred to as "the influenza," is a contagious disease
caused by the influenza virus.(3) The grippe, much like the plebeian cold, is
airborne and can be easily familial from person to person.(3) Cold and
influenza are often confused for one some other because both are respiratory
illnesses.(4) Flu symptoms are often much worsened and pot include pyrexia,
chills, headache, extreme fatigue duty, and body aches.(4) The well-nigh notable
difference is that the flu can outcome in serious complications such as
pneumonia and bacterial infections.(4) Also, unlike symptoms of the coarse
cold, the fatigue and weakness caused by the flu stool last more than two
weeks-lingering long after other symptoms subside.(4)
About the Parent and Child Flu Surveys These surveys were conducted online inside the United States by Harris
Interactive on behalf of MedImmune between June 4 and June 19, 2008 among
952 U.S. residents ages 24 and older with an 8-17 year old in the household
for whom they are the parent or guardian and among 875 U.S. children and
adolescents 8-17 long time old. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can
be calculated; a wide methodology is available.
Harris Interactive conducts a full range of custom research projects
for clients in both commercial and populace policy arenas and among children
and teens. Harris Interactive's policies on interviewing children and teens
comply with the legal codes of acquit in each country in which enquiry is
conducted. With gaze to on-line research in the U.S., Harris Interactive
complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
About MedImmune MedImmune is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN)
and is the world biologics business for the AstraZeneca Group. The
company has roughly 3,000 employees global and is headquartered in
Gaithersburg, Maryland. MedImmune strives to allow better medicines to
patients, new aesculapian options for physicians and rewarding careers to
employees. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live
better lives, the company is focused on infection, oncology, respiratory
disease and inflammation, cardiovascular/ gastrointestinal disease and
neuroscience. For more than information, jaw MedImmune's internet site at
http://www.medimmune.com.
About Harris Interactive(R) Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a
long and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science
and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris
Interactive serves clients globally through and through our North American, European
and Asian offices and a network of sovereign market research firms. For
more information, please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
References (1) MedImmune. Parent-Child Influenza Survey. Harris Interactive Inc.
June 2008.
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR.
2008;57(Early Release):1-60. Available at:
http://www.cdc.% (CDC). Questions &
Answers: Cold Versus Flu. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm. Accessed August 11, 2008.
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