Attitudes of wisconsin pediatricians toward influenza immunization

Objective: Determine the influenza immunization practices of Wisconsin pediatricians in response to evolving influenza prevention strategy in the United States. Design: Two hundred fifty members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics were surveyed prior to the 2004-2005 influenza season about their expectations for implementing the latest and future influenza vaccination recommendations for children and their use of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines free of thimerosal as a preservative. Results: Ninety-two percent of respondents expected to vaccinate most medically high-risk children against influenza, but only 53% would recommend influenza vaccine for most of their household contacts. Although 57% planned to vaccinate most healthy children ages 6 months to 23 months, just 27% thought the majority of household contacts of healthy infants under 23 months of age would be vaccinated. Fewer than 24% favored universal influenza vaccination for the majority of healthy school-aged children. Seventy percent had little or no concern about recommending thimerosal-containing influenza vaccines, but 60% agreed or strongly agreed thimerosal-free vaccine availability would increase parental acceptance of vaccinating their children. Conclusion: Although Wisconsin pediatricians are aware of the importance of preventing influenza disease in children, barriers to universal influenza vaccination of children and key household contacts remain.