Flu Shot Mandates Work for Children

New strategies to improve flu shot uptake were recently deployed during the recent pandemic in the United States.

Despite the clearly defined risks to children from influenza, pediatric flu shot rates have been suboptimal. 

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics evaluated the impact of an influenza vaccine mandate on schoolchildren's behavior in Massachusetts during the 2020–2021 flu season.

In August of 2020, Massachusetts mandated that all children aged six months and older attending daycare through college virtually or in person receive an influenza vaccine, allowing for certain exemptions.

However, Massachusetts's neighboring states of Maine and New Hampshire did not adopt similar mandates.

Published on October 10, 2023, this study found children, mean age of 9.7 years, had a higher predicted probability of receiving an influenza vaccine than those living in states without a mandate (47.7%, confidence interval 46.4%–49.0%, vs. 21.2%, confidence interval 18.8%–23.6%, respectively, for previous non-vaccinators.

And 78.2%, confidence interval 77.4%–79.0%, vs 58.2%, confidence interval 54.7%–61.7%, for previous vaccinators).

The difference was 6.5% greater among previous nonvaccinators (confidence interval 1.3%–11.7%).

Previously vaccinated children had a lower predicted probability of receiving an influenza vaccine if they lived in a county with the highest COVID-19 severity compared with a county with low COVID-19 severity (72.1%, confidence interval 70.5%–73.7%, vs 77.3%, confidence interval 74.7%–79.9%).

These researchers concluded that an influenza vaccine mandate appears to be an effective but insufficient strategy to achieve optimal vaccine coverage rates.

For the 2023-2024 flu season, over 116 million flu shots have been distributed throughout the U.S. About 173 million influenza vaccines were distributed in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.

Furthermore, the U.S. CDC recommends an annual flu shot for most people early in the evolving flu season. These vaccines are offered at most health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.