Today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend a preference for using the nasal spray flu vaccine (i.e., LAIV) instead of the flu shot (i.e., IIV) in healthy children 2-8 years of age when it is immediately available. ACIP is a panel of immunization experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Original title: “Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends a preference for using the nasal spray flu vaccine - Media Statement”

Getting a flu vaccine reduces a child's risk of flu-related intensive care hospitalization by 74 percent, according to a CDC study published today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Original title: “New Study Shows Flu Vaccine Reduced Children's Risk of Intensive Care Unit Flu Admission by Three-Fourths - Press Release”

This influenza season was particularly hard on younger- and middle-age adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. People age 18-64 represented 61 percent of all hospitalizations from influenza-up from the previous three seasons when this age group represented only about 35 percent of all such hospitalizations. Influenza deaths followed the same pattern; more deaths than usual occurred in this younger age group.

Original title: “CDC Reports Flu Hit Younger People Particularly Hard This Season - Press Release”

CDC will host a telebriefing to discuss two articles which appear in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The articles are: "Interim Estimates of 2013-14 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - United States, February 2014" and "Update: Influenza Activity - United States, September 29, 2013-February 8, 2014

Original title: “CDC Telebriefing: Update on Flu Activity and Vaccine Effectiveness Estimates”

MMWR has exciting news about influenza and flu vaccinations and it is so important that people get vaccinated.

Original title: “Flu Press Conference: New Report Highlights Benefits of Flu Vaccine - Transcript”

Flu vaccination prevented an estimated 6.6 million influenza-associated illnesses, 3.2 million medically attended illnesses, and 79,000 hospitalizations during the 2012-2013 flu season, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Original title: “New Report Highlights Benefits of Flu Vaccine - Press Release”

CDC to provide an update on flu and vaccination activity this season and share new data on the impact of vaccination last season.

Original title: “CDC to provide an update on flu and vaccination activity this season and share new data on the impact of vaccination last season - Media Advisory”

CDC will host a telebriefing to provide an update on the 2012-2013 influenza season.

Original title: “CDC Update: 2012-2013 Influenza Season”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today issued the first "FluView" influenza activity report for the U.S. 2012-2013 flu season. The 2012-2013 reporting season began on September 30. The first FluView report shows that influenza activity is low nationwide. This season, FluView has new interactive visualization tools.

Original title: “CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season”

A disproportionately high number of children with neurologic disorders died from influenza-related complications during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, according to a study by scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Original title: “Children with neurologic disorders at high risk of death from flu”

CDC will host a telephone-only media availability to provide an update on the domestic influenza A (H3N2) variant ("H3N2v") virus situation. A number of additional cases of human infection with H3N2v virus have been confirmed in the United States and are being reported on Friday.

Original title: “CDC Update: Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus”

CDC will host a telephone-only media availability to provide an update on the domestic influenza A (H3N2) variant ("H3N2v") virus situation.

Original title: “CDC Update: Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus”

A new influenza A virus discovered in fruit bats in Guatemala does not appear to present a current threat to humans, but should be studied as a potential source for human influenza, according to scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who worked with University of the Valley of Guatemala.

Original title: “New influenza virus discovered in Guatemalan fruit bats”

CDC will host a telebriefing to provide an influenza update, including providing recent information on influenza activity this season.

Original title: “CDC Telebriefing: Influenza Update”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will host a telephone-only media briefing Monday, December 5, to provide up-to-date figures on U.S. influenza activity and vaccination rates and to announce this season's National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW).

Original title: “Telebriefing on U.S. Influenza Activity and Vaccination Rates for Current Season”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the initial "FluView" report for the U.S. 2011-2012 flu season with the message that flu activity is currently low, making this the perfect time to get vaccinated. There should be lots of vaccine available, because the supply is projected to set a U.S. record.

Original title: “CDC issues initial 2011-2012 seasonal "FluView" report”

Just two years ago, an influenza pandemic swept the globe, causing hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths in the United States alone, including the deaths of an estimated 1,280 children.

Original title: “Are We Ready for America's Next Flu Challenge?”

Although children and teenagers rarely die from flu-related causes, many of the deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Original title: “CDC report details influenza prevention and treatment for children and teens”

A laboratory diagnostic kit to diagnose human infections with seasonal influenza viruses and novel influenza A viruses with pandemic potential has been authorized for use by Food and Drug Administration.

Original title: “New CDC Developed Diagnostic Lab Test for Flu Approved”

CDC will host a telebriefing regarding this season's influenza vaccination recommendations and influenza vaccination coverage among health-care personnel and pregnant women.

Original title: “CDC Telebriefing on Influenza Vaccination”