The AAP is keeping its flu vaccine recommendations the same for the 2023-’24 season and providing resources to help pediatricians pre-book them.
The AAP recommendations include the following:
- Everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated.
- Any licensed influenza vaccine appropriate by age and health status can be used.
- The AAP does not prefer any product over another for children and adolescents with no contraindications.
The recommendations are in line with those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is not expected to make changes when it meets in June.
The AAP will publish its annual influenza policy statement in Pediatrics later this year but released recommendations now so pediatricians can pre-book vaccines. The AAP also is providing a short webinar with tips on pre-booking and integrating lessons learned from the current influenza season. Pediatricians should consider how many doses were used this season, the number of children eligible for vaccination, the type of vaccine to order and storage space available.
About 53% of children had gotten vaccinated as of mid-February, about 2 percentage points lower than the same time in 2021.
Flu activity has been low in recent weeks following an early season spike in late November/early December. However, CDC experts did not rule out the possibility of another surge.
At least 117 children and adolescents have died of flu as of March 3, more than double the 2021-’22 season, according to CDC data. Overall, the CDC estimates at least 26 million people have gotten sick, 290,000 have been hospitalized and 18,000 have died.
This season’s vaccine is about 68% effective in preventing influenza A-related hospitalization in children and teens and about 42% effective in preventing emergency department (ED) visits, according to preliminary estimates from the CDC. Influenza A has been predominant this season.
In adults, effectiveness is about 39%-43% against hospitalization and 44% against an ED or urgent care visit.
Two small studies from Wisconsin found effectiveness of about 54% against an outpatient visit for influenza A among people ages 6 months-64 years and 71% against symptomatic infection in children.
The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meets March 7 to discuss flu vaccine composition for next season.
Resources
- AAP tips and webinar on pre-booking flu vaccines
- AAP policy Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2022-2023
- AAP technical report Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2022-2023
- Information on flu from the CDC
- AAP flu toolkit
- Information for parents on flu vaccine from HealthyChildren.org
- Information on flu from the AAP Red Book
