Dr. Norman

Flu Season is Underway, and With the Holiday Season Quickly Approaching, the American Academy of Pediatrics Discusses New Vaccination Guidelines and Importance of Flu Vaccination for Children This Flu Season! Confirmation of Your RADIO Interview on Thursday, November 20th! What: American families are busy this fall with sports and school activities, leaf-raking, and holiday season preparations. However, have they taken the time to act on a new public health recommendation to get an annual flu vaccination for children ages six months through 18 years? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is helping to shine a spotlight on this new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation with a new Public Service Announcement. The AAP is encouraging the parents of the almost 30-million additional children and adolescents who now fall under the flu vaccine guidelines to talk to their pediatrician about getting their children vaccinated against influenza. This year there is ample supply of flu vaccine ~ both of the traditional flu shot and the needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine. With the approaching holiday season, a flu vaccination can help ensure that family members share the best of memories and not remembrances of the flu. According to alarming statistics from a recent national, parent-child survey, despite concerns over missed school and worry over making other household members sick, less than half of surveyed parents of eight to 17-year-olds have ever had their child vaccinated against the flu. Most parents say that they are aware they can vaccinate their child against the flu, yet in the survey, parents ranked its protective value almost equally (56-percent) with practices such as taking vitamins (58-percent) and dressing appropriately for the weather (55-percent). Data show children between two and 17 are twice as likely to get influenza as adults, including the elderly. One of the nations leading pediatricians renowned for his expertise on influenza Dr. Norman Chip Harbaugh will discuss with your listeners these encouraging alarming statistics and explain why flu vaccination is so important as well as answer any questions that your listeners have about the flu, including but not limited to: * symptoms of the flu among children * ways to prevent the flu among children * common misperceptions about the flu * the benefits of flu vaccination * CDC recommendations on who should be vaccinated against the flu * explanation of flu vaccine options FLU SURVEY Facts (from Harris Interactive survey): * Most parents (82-percent) of eight to 17-year-olds are aware that they can vaccinate their child against the flu, however less than half of parents (44-percent) have ever vaccinated their child against it. * Among parents of children who have not previously been given the flu vaccine, three in 10 (32-percent) report that they believe that their child does not need it. Only 40-percent of eight to 17-year-olds believe that it is very or extremely important for them to receive an annual flu vaccine. Who: Dr. Norman Chip Harbaugh, Jr., M.D., FAAP, nationally-renowned pediatrician Dr. Chip Harbaugh, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), is a primary care pediatrician practicing in Atlanta who has served on national committees for the AAP and CDC to advance the delivery of quality healthcare to children. Dr. Harbaugh has also served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Kids First Pediatric Alliance, serving almost 700,000 children in the Atlanta metropolitan area. SPONSOR: Medimmue