Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2014–2015

Abstract

The purpose of this statement is to update recommendations for routine use of seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual seasonal influenza immunization for all people 6 months and older, including all children and adolescents. Highlights for the upcoming 2014–2015 season include the following: The influenza vaccine composition for the 2014–2015 season is unchanged from the 2013–2014 season. Both trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines are available in the United States for the 2014–2015 season. Annual universal influenza immunization is indicated with either a trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine (no preference). Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) should be considered for healthy children 2 through 8 years of age who have no contraindications or precautions to the intranasal vaccine. If LAIV is not readily available, inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) should be used; vaccination should not be delayed to obtain LAIV. The dosing algorithm for administration of influenza vaccine to children 6 months through 8 years of age reflects that virus strains in the vaccine have not changed from last season. As always, pediatricians, nurses, and all other health care personnel should be immunized themselves and should promote influenza vaccine use and infection control measures. In addition, pediatricians should promptly identify clinical influenza infections to enable rapid antiviral treatment, when indicated, to reduce morbidity and mortality.