Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Influenza Vaccines in Chimeric Mouse Models to Study Mucosal Immunity
Published on: June 25, 2015
Feasibility of influenza immunization for inner-city children aged 6 to 23 months
Richard K Zimmerman1, Alejandro Hoberman, Mary Patricia Nowalk
1Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. zimmer@pitt.edu
Insights
Implementing targeted influenza vaccination programs significantly increased immunization rates in young children. This strategy did not delay the timely administration of other essential childhood vaccines, demonstrating feasibility and safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Children under 2 years have high influenza hospitalization rates, second only to the elderly.
- Prior to 2002, no specific recommendations existed for vaccinating healthy children aged 6-23 months against influenza.
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended influenza vaccination for this age group in 2002.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing influenza vaccination for children aged 6-23 months in urban health centers.
- To evaluate the impact of influenza vaccination on the timely receipt of other routine childhood immunizations.
Main Methods:
- A pre-post trial design was employed in urban health centers serving low-income populations.
- Interventions were selected from evidence-based strategies to enhance vaccination coverage.
- The study included 1534 children aged 6-23 months by November 30, 2002.
Main Results:
- Influenza vaccination rates for the first dose significantly increased from 6.5% to 38.5% (p < 0.001).
- Second-dose influenza vaccination rates also improved significantly, from 1.9% to 13.2%.
- Receipt of other vaccines, including measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), was not delayed and was even earlier for some vaccines in influenza-vaccinated children.
Conclusions:
- Directed efforts can successfully increase influenza vaccination rates among young children in underserved urban health centers.
- Administering a two-dose influenza vaccine series is feasible and does not negatively impact the schedule for other essential childhood vaccines.
Background:
Annual influenza-related hospitalization rates of children aged < 2 years in the United States are second only to those of the elderly. Yet no recommendations existed for vaccinating healthy children aged 6 to 23 months until 2002, when the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices encouraged influenza vaccination for them. This study tested the feasibility of vaccinating 6- to 23-month-old children against influenza and assessed the effect on timely receipt of other vaccines.
Methods:
A pre-post trial was used in urban health centers serving low-income children. Sites selected interventions from strategies proven to increase vaccination rates. Targeted patients were aged 6 to 23 months by November 30, 2002 (N = 1534).
Results:
Influenza vaccination rates for the 2002-2003 intervention season improved significantly from 6.5% to 38.5% for the first dose (p < 0.001). Second-dose rates were significantly improved over preintervention (1.9% preintervention, 13.2% intervention), but lower than first-dose rates. Mean ages at vaccination for other recommended childhood vaccines did not differ or were significantly younger (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine [MMR] and varicella) for children who received influenza vaccine versus those who did not. Moreover, a higher percentage of influenza-vaccinated than unvaccinated children received MMR, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine 3 (DTaP3), inactivated poliovirus vaccine 2 (IPV2), and Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib2) vaccines within a 2-month grace period of the recommended age (p < 0.039), with no differences between groups for Hib1, DTaP1, IPV1, and varicella.
Conclusions:
With directed effort, it is possible to increase influenza vaccination at health centers serving low-income children. The addition of a two-dose vaccine was not associated with delayed receipt of other vaccines among these children.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:27Influenza