Study explores link between children with neurological syndromes and flu vaccines

Children with neurological disorders are slightly more likely to develop complications from influenza, but a new study shows that they are no likelier to be vaccinated than those without such ailments, researchers have concluded.

A team from the University of Louisville and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published results of their recent study online in the journal Vaccine.

The study is the first to estimate the rates of flu vaccination among children with neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders (NNDDs). Results, based on over 2,138 completed surveys, indicate that immunization rates in youngsters with NNDDs is similar to that of neurotypicals, but that both rates are suboptimal.

"More education about the need for annual influenza vaccination is needed, both for parents and health care providers," study lead author and University of Louisville associate professor and pediatric infectious disease specialist Michael Smith said.

Among parents surveyed, the impetus for inoculating their children stemmed more from the presence of chronic respiratory conditions than from NNDD conditions. However, data indicates that children with NNDDs are at increased risk of complications from flu.

Participants were recruited by national advocacy group Family Voices and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Of those parents who chose not to vaccinate their youngsters, over a third had concerns about how the vaccine would affect their child. Another 32 percent expressed concerns about the safety of the vaccine.