At a time when many people are preoccupied with the dangers of Ebola and a rare respiratory virus striking children, health officials announced Thursday that fewer than half of Americans are being vaccinated against the flu, which kills an average of more than 30,000 people a year.
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The flu season could be tougher than usual this year, if it follows the pattern seen in Australia, said Schaffner, noting that flu is hard to predict. In many years, however, flu outbreaks in the southern hemisphere can predict flu activity in the USA.
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For the first time, the CDC suggests that children ages 2 to 8 receive a live, intranasal flu vaccine, instead of the traditional shot, because of evidence showing that it's more effective for these ages. Parents shouldn't waste a lot of time "shopping around" for the nasal mist, however, because kids are better off getting the first vaccine available than risking an illness because they waited too long.
In another new recommendation, the CDC also is also calling for senior citizens to get a second type of vaccine against pneumococcus, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia and which hospitalizes about 50,000 Americans a year.
Anyone age 65 and over should get a one-time vaccination with the combination pneumococcal vaccine already routinely given to children, called Prevnar 13, which protects against 13 strains of the bacteria, said CDC director Thomas Frieden.
Seniors should also get a second a second, one-time-only vaccination with another pneumococcal vaccine — known as a polysaccharid vaccine — that protects against 23 strains of pneumococcus. Seniors need to get these vaccines just once — not every year — but should get the shots about six months apart to increase their effectiveness.
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People have more flu shot options this year than ever, Schaffner said. In addition to nasal sprays, which are available to people ages 2 to 49, there is a new "needle-free" flu shot that uses a jet to force flu vaccine through the skin, rather than a needle. There are also traditional needles, as well as shorter needles that don't penetrate as far into the muscle, Frieden said.
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In spite of these risks, only 46% of Americans got flu shots last year, Frieden said. Vaccination rates by age were:
- 34% of adults ages 18 to 64.
- 50% of pregnant women.
- 55% of children ages 5 to 17.
- 65% of those age 65 and over.
- 70% of kids under age 5.
- 90% of doctors and nurses.
