When kids go back to school, there are two seasonal issues that all families start to talk a great deal about and ask for advice on: sports safety and the flu. I talked about both of these important topics with NECN’s Karen Swenson on HealthWeek recently:
I want to pass on some more flu information for you since October will begin flu season vaccination season. The flu can be a tough virus and the expansion of the flu shot guidelines make good sense for all of us. Unfortunately, too many people don’t have all the right information. A new survey out is very revealing. Conducted by MedImmune, the makers of the FluMist flu immunization nasal spray,
• Parents find flu vaccination unimportant – Parents ranked flu vaccination sixth among seven proven and unproven options to protect against the flu – nearly equal with taking vitamins and dressing appropriately for the weather.
• Parents find flu vaccination unnecessary – Among parents whose kids have not received the flu vaccine, one-third (32 percent) say that their child does not need the vaccine.
• Surprise, surprise! Kids hate being sick – Most children (72 percent) hate being sick, far more than even doing chores (32 percent), doing homework (30 percent), or taking tests (29 percent).
• Kids and parents want flu vaccine options – Two out of three parents (67 percent) wish their children could get a flu vaccine without getting a shot, and approximately three out of four children (77 percent) have the same wish.
One of the best parts of the FluVote website is the ability to forward the website to family and friends by email to get help spread the word about the importance of getting kids ages 6months and older, and appropriate adults, immunized against the flu. I’d encourage you to do so!
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