Cologne - In the 2013/14 flu season, quarter of the patients who were hospitalized for influenza were children under the age of four. This is reported by the professional association of paediatricians () on the basis of an evaluation by the influenza working group (). “Parents should teach their children how to cough and sneeze into the crook of their arm and how to wash their hands frequently as early as possible. As soon as the first signs of feverish infection appear, which may also include influenza, child is better off staying at home, ”advises Ulrich Fegeler, Federal Press Spokesman for the professional association.
According to the, the best protection against real influenza is BVKJ the vaccination. The Standing Vaccination Commission () currently only recommends it to children and adolescents with congenital and / or chronic disorders of the cardiovascular system, breathing, physical mobility, with metabolic diseases or diseases of other body systems.
The BVKJ points out that there are two states in the USA - Connecticut and New Jersey - that have introduced an annual flu vaccination requirement for children aged six to 59 months, if that one Should attend daycare. Compared to the 2007-08 flu season, this reduced Connecticut's influenza-related hospital admissions by twelve percent in 2012-13, according to the professional association.