Many who need flu shots don't bother

WASHINGTON — Of the Americans who most need a flu shot, fewer than half actually get one, federal health officials warned Thursday as they called for special attention to babies, toddlers and the elderly as vaccinations begin next month.

A record 100 million doses of flu vaccine will be available this year, the vast majority of it shipped to doctors' offices by the end of October, said Dr. Keiji Fukuda of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That assurance comes a month after one major supplier, Chiron Corp., delayed its shipments because a small amount of vaccine failed sterility testing, suggesting contamination. That was "a precautionary move," and close monitoring so far suggests the rest of Chiron's supply is fine, Fukuda said.

There's no way to predict how harsh flu will be this winter or how soon it will strike. But every year, it kills about 36,000 Americans and hospitalizes another 200,000.

Yet too many people don't bother to get flu shots, even those at highest risk of influenza-caused complications. Flu vaccine is most recommended for:

• Babies and toddlers 6 months to 23 months old. In 2002, the first year CDC began encouraging shots for these youngsters, just 4.4 percent were fully vaccinated. This year, CDC is more strongly recommending flu shots for this age group.

• Any child 6 months or older with chronic health problems such as asthma or diabetes that leave them more vulnerable to influenza complications. Yet only about 30 percent of asthmatic children, for example, get vaccinated.

Last year, 152 children died from the flu, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

• Anyone 50 or older. Of particular concern are those over 64, who account for 90 percent of flu-caused deaths and over half of influenza hospitalizations. Yet just 66 percent of this oldest group get vaccinated.

• Any adult with chronic health conditions, such as heart or lung disease.

• Pregnant women. Vaccinating the mother also offers some protection to babies born during flu season.

• Anyone who lives with or cares for someone at high risk of flu complications, particularly newborns and the elderly.

• Health care workers. Surprisingly, only about 36 percent get regular flu vaccine.

"When you are vaccinated, you not only protect yourself, you protect your loved ones," stressed Dr. Walter Orenstein, the associate director of Emory Vaccine Center.