Action by a Federal Health panel on Wednesday urges that all children aged six months to eighteen years of age receive the flu vaccine. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has adopted the urging of their own health panel, which recommends that all children 6 months of age to 18 years of age receive flu vaccine on a yearly basis.

San Francisco- Action by a Federal Health panel on Wednesday urges that all children aged six months to eighteen years of age receive the flu vaccine. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has adopted the urging of their own health panel, which recommends that all children 6 months of age to 18 years of age receive flu vaccine on a yearly basis.

This will compel that private insurance companies support and pay for the cost of such vaccinations in children, and allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give support, funds and aid to those that cannot afford the vaccine.

“This is very exciting, I am pleased,” said Dr. Carol Baker. Dr. Baker is the President of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “I am thrilled, as a Pediatrician I see it as vital to protect my patients from influenza,” said Dr. Baker.

The CDC committee voted 11-0 to recommend that flu shots be given and provided for all school age children, from age 6 months to 18 years of age. This decision will take some time to implement and may not be possible this flu season, but efforts are being made even now to implement the new recommendations.

Up to now only children older than 6 years of age were recommended to receive flu shots.