The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some new recommendations for parents of young children. Center Deputy Director Doctor Melinda Wharton says too many pre-schoolers have been showing up in emergency rooms and clinics with serious flu symptons.
This year, C-D-C says more children should be given the flu vaccine. "Our previous recommendation was for 6 month to 23 month olds but this year its new, it goes all the way from 6 months to the fifth birthday. The rationale for that is that although hospitalization rates are not high among 2 to 4 years olds, out-patient utilization is very high" Says Wharton.
Wharton adds that flu season runs now through the spring.
Tom Borgerding WOSU