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Many High-Risk Teens Not Getting Flu Shots

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Nov 6, 2008 8:44 pm US/Eastern

Many High-Risk Teens Not Getting Flu Shots

Reporting
Dr. Maria Simbra
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Many adolescents at risk for the flu -- and its sometimes serious complications -- are missing out.

Researchers looked at vaccination rates from 1992 to 2002 for more than 18,000 adolescents with asthma, cardiac disease, immune system disorders and other conditions.

For people, including teens with high-risk conditions the flu can be severe and even lead to hospitalization and death. Even though flu shots have been recommended for more than a decade for teens at risk, this preventive measure is skipped in a lot of cases.

"We do definitely agree with universal immunization every year, because even otherwise healthy teenagers have gotten then flu and have died from it. And that happens every year," says Dr. Jonathan Pletcher, an adolescent medicine specialist at Children's Hospital. "So it is something recommended routinely, but particularly for teenagers with special health care needs, particularly lung conditions."

In the study in the journal Pediatrics, more than half of these at-risk kids did not get a flu shot for a variety of reasons. "Fear of pain, fear of complications, and the question of will this work for me," lists Dr. Pletcher.

Many missed opportunities, too. Half these kids had a doctor visit during flu season and didn't get vaccinated.

"Whether it's for an acute complaint, or whether it's for a check up, there's a lot of tasks that need to be accomplished, and sometimes, because this is a seasonal task, it's not always on our mind," explains Dr. Pletcher.

To increase immunization rates, Dr. Pletcher uses reminder systems and letters to parents of patients who are at high risk. "For a shot that's relatively universally accessible, that's very very cheap, and hurts for a second, is something that definitely everybody should get."

A flu shot is typically covered by insurance. The vaccine costs about $25. You can get a flu shot at a doctor, pharmacist or flu shot clinics near you.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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