Championing school-located influenza immunization: the school nurse's role

According to the 2008 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza vaccine should be administered on an annual basis to all children aged 6 months through 18 years. School-age children are more likely than any other age group to be infected with influenza, and young children are at high risk for hospitalization resulting from influenza-related complications. Given children's pivotal role in transmission of influenza to their schoolmates, household contacts, and members of their communities, it has been suggested that routinely vaccinating children against the disease might reduce the burden of disease in the US population as a whole. School-located vaccination clinics could go a long way toward improving the rates of pediatric influenza immunization and enhancing the pandemic preparedness of communities. School nurses are urged to consider ways in which they can help advocate for, plan, and/or implement school-located influenza vaccination clinics.