Children & Adults with Disabilities Should Get Flu Vaccine
This information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 13, 2013. The CDC,
in cooperation with Family Voices and the American Academy of Pediatrics,
surveyed parents and physicians and found that flu vaccination rates were
low for children with intellectual disability (52%) and epilepsy (59%). This is
an important finding because children with neurologic and neuro-
developmental conditions are at greater risk for poor outcomes related
to infection from influenza viruses.
“Parents and caregivers reported that healthcare providers were the most important
source of information about vaccines. Intellectual disability and epilepsy were the two
most common neurologic and neurodevelopmental (NND) conditions among children
who died during the 2009 influenza pandemic, but were two of the three conditions
least likely to be recognized as high-risk by physicians.”
“Efforts to improve physician awareness are essential because physicians are in a key
position to educate parents of children with NND conditions about their increased risk
for influenza complications and the importance of prevention through vaccination.”
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
