ATLANTA, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices voted Wednesday to recommend a flu shot for everyone over the age of
six months, officials said.
The ACIP, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on
vaccine issues, voted on the new recommendation during its meeting in Atlanta.
The expanded recommendation is scheduled to take effect in the 2010-2011
influenza season, a statement released by the CDC said.
Prior to the new committee recommendations the focus was on seasonal flu
vaccines for higher-risk persons, children six months through age 18 and those
in close contact with higher-risk persons.
One of the reasons cited in favor of a universal vaccine recommendation is that
many people in "higher risk" groups are unaware of their risk factor or that
they are recommended for vaccination, the officials said.
Also factoring into the decision is that data collected over the course of the
H1N1 pandemic indicates that some people who do not currently have a specific
recommendation for vaccination may also be at higher risk of serious flu-related
complications, including those people who are obese, post-partum women and
people in certain racial/ethnic groups.
Source : United Press International
