ATLANTA, Sep 25, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. health officials said a new flu
vaccine should protect against the three main flu strains expected to cause
illness this year.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a record 143 million to
146 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for use in the United
States during the 2008-2009 influenza season. Several manufacturers began
shipping vaccine in August, with most of the vaccine expected to be distributed
by the end of November, the CDC said Wednesday on its Web site.
The government has expanded the number of people targeted for vaccination to
include 86 percent of the U.S. population. The CDC, which previously targeted
flu shots to children ages 6 month to 5 years, now says all children under the
age of 19 should be vaccinated, The Washington Post reported. That adds 30
million children to the number advised to get the vaccine, the newspaper said.
The CDC recommends the vaccine for anyone at high risk of having serious flu
complications or who lives with or cares for people at high risk for serious
complications, including pregnant women and people 50 years of age and older.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2008 by United Press International