"A healthy child doesn't need to be vaccinated" "There are other ways to avoid seasonal flu that are just as effective as vaccination"

Another reason parents do not regularly have their children vaccinated for seasonal influenza is that they enjoy freedom of choice they do not have with required childhood vaccines. Slightly more than half (52 percent) say they did not have their children vaccinated for influenza annually because their pediatrician left the decision up to them.

"The survey highlights a tendency among these parents to rely on 'magical' or wishful thinking about seasonal influenza, rather than follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that all children ages six months through 18 years be vaccinated." said Dr. Baker. "While it's encouraging that H1N1 has put seasonal influenza higher on parents' radar, the survey reveals the need for more disease education and for health care providers to emphasize to parents that immunization is the best way to prevent flu."

"Previous research has shown that the advice of a health care professional is an important factor in a patient's decision to get vaccinated against influenza. Since many people will have to be vaccinated against more than one kind of virus this year, communication between patients, parents and health care professionals will be essential," added Dr. Baker.

In an effort to encourage more discussion between pediatricians and parents about influenza immunization as a measure of preventive health, NFID is asking health care professionals to sign and display a statement showing their commitment to seasonal influenza vaccination. Called the Health Care Professionals' Influenza Vaccination Commitment, it lets patients know that their health care professional strongly recommends annual flu vaccination. It provides the official recommendations on flu vaccination from the CDC, and encourages patients to ask for vaccination.

SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)