MONDAY, Aug. 30, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- All children and adolescents 6 months of age and older should receive the annual trivalent influenza vaccine this flu season, according to updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The AAP also says special efforts should be made to immunize anyone who falls into the following categories: all family members, household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children younger than 5 years of age; children with high-risk conditions such as asthma, diabetes and neurological disorders; health care workers; and pregnant women.
These groups are most vulnerable to flu-related complications, the academy pointed out in a news release.
Two influenza vaccines were recommended last year but only one trivalent vaccine is being made for the 2010-11 seasonal influenza vaccine schedule. In this year's trivalent vaccine, the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) strain has replaced last year's influenza A (H1N1) strain. The new vaccine also includes two other strains of flu virus.
The seasonal flu vaccine policy statement was released online Monday and will be published in the October print issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Other recommendations included in the policy statement are as follows:
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about seasonal flu and vaccination.