Most children not getting two doses of flu vaccine

NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) During the 2003-2004 flu season, only 12 per cent of children between the ages of two and eight in the US received both doses of the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) that are recommended for adequate protection, according to findings from the Vaccine Safety Datalink study.

The Vaccine Safety Datalink project is a population-based study of children enrolled in health maintenance organizations across the United States.

Data for 125,928 children between six months and eight years, receiving TIV for the first time, were analyzed by Dr Lisa A Jackson of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, and colleagues with the project.

The researchers looked at compliance rates during three seasons: 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, according to their report in the November issue of Pediatrics.

Among children aged six-23 months, administration of both doses was achieved in 44 per cent in the first season, 54 per cent in the second season and 29 per cent in the most recent season analyzed.

However, among children between the ages of two and eight, the second dose was given to 15 per cent during the first year, 24 per cent during the second year and only 12 percent in the most recent time period.

Jackson's team found that children who received their first TIV dose before mid-November had the highest compliance rates for full immunization. ''This reinforces previous recommendations to target previously unvaccinated children less than nine years of age for early vaccination, in September if possible,'' the investigators say.

REUTERS BDP ND0848