Turacoz's Insight: Influenza vaccination Week, 7-13 Dec 2014

Influenza Vaccination Week was from December 7-­13, 2014, with a primary aim to remind everyone that 6 months and older should be vaccinated with the flu vaccine. National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) was established in 2005 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to draw attention to the importance of continuing influenza vaccination after the holiday season into January and beyond.

The influenza is an infectious respiratory illness which can cause mild to severe illness, and at times lead to death.  According to recent estimates influenza attacks 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children globally, thus leading to considerable levels of illness, hospitalization and deaths. Children <5 years of age, and particularly those <2 years of age, have a high burden of influenza. In India, influenza virus has been reported to cause 1.5% to 14.5% of all acute respiratory infections (ARIs) episodes. The two major mechanisms by which these viruses undergo rapid changes in their genetic constituents are “antigenic drift and antigenic shift” and are a challenge in the field of vaccination.

Globally, trivalent inactivated vaccines (TIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) are the most common vaccines available for influenza whereas in India, LAIV is not available and a monovalent vaccine containing single pandemic strain, A (H1N1) pdm09 is available. Current trivalent influenza vaccines are not approved for children <6 months of age. Children (previously immunized with seasonal influenza vaccine) and adults should receive one dose of influenza vaccine each year. Children 6 months to < 9 years of age receiving seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time should be given two doses, with a minimum interval of four weeks between doses. For intramuscular (IM) TIV, the dose is 0.5 ml for all age groups.⁴

The "Influenza Vaccination Week" focused on the following activities:

• Increase awareness by interactive programs and blogs to get vaccinated in December, January and beyond for better protection.
• Remind parents and providers of the need for high risk children receive a second dose of flu vaccine for optimal protection.
• Provide an opportunity for interaction with people ask questions about the flu and flu vaccination.
• Provide an update on local influenza activities.
• CDC launched a Google keyword search and display to raise awareness that everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated.

Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for influenza vaccination 2014-2015

• The flu shots are recommended for children as ≥6 months of age and in pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions and for children < 6 months are not recommended for a flu shot. Factors like an egg allergy and presence or clinical history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) require a consultation from doctor before getting a flu shot. 
• The nasal spray vaccine is approved for people 2 -49 years of age. Asthmatic patients, patients with chronic condition like lung disease, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, neurologic/neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders and the presence or clinical history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) require a consultation from doctor before getting a nasal spray.

Read more at:

Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine. www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm (Accessed on December12, 2014).

WHO. Vaccines against influenza. WHO position paper – November 2012 Weekly Epidemiol Record 2012.87(47):461–76.