Panel urges flu shots for children ages 2 to 5

ATLANTA (AP) -- Children ages 2 to 5 should get flu shots, an advisory panel said Wednesday, widening the group of Americans urged to seek protection from a virus that kills thousands in this country each year.
The recommendation, which covers 5.3 million healthy U.S. children, was unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel's advice is routinely adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals.
Flu shots are already recommended for children ages 6 months to 23 months, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and people of all ages with chronic health conditions, along with a few other groups.
The new recommendation was cheered by Alissa Kanowitz of New York City, the mother of a 4-year-old girl who died from the flu in 2004.
"It's too late for us to do anything for Amanda now. But hopefully this will help other children," said Kanowitz, 37, member of a group called Families Fighting Flu who spoke to the committee before the vote.
The committee also recommended routine vaccinations for in-home and out-of-home caregivers of children ages 2 to 5.
The panel considered encouraging all Americans to routinely get flu shots. However, committee members narrowly defeated the proposal, saying more study and planning are needed.