A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published online this week found the flu vaccine was effective in significantly reducing cases of life-threatening flu in children. The study analyzed vaccination records and data from 44 cases of children admitted to 21 U.S. pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with acute severe respiratory illness and testing positive for flu during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 flu seasons. These cases were compared to 172 PICU controls (children in the PICUs without the flu) and 93 community controls (children in the community without the flu). The study found that children fully vaccinated against the flu were 74% or 82% less likely to be admitted to a PICU with s life-threatening flu illness compared to PICU controls or community controls, respectively. Children who only received one dose of vaccine when two doses were recommended were not protected.
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