U.S. Officials Will Change Flu Vaccine
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ATLANTA — Federal health officials said Thursday that they are changing two of the three strains in this winter’s influenza vaccine and lowering the age for which a flu shot is recommended.
The government’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that people 50 and older receive the flu vaccine. Previously, the flu shot was recommended for adults 65 and older.
The committee said it is recommending the earlier age because almost one-third of adults in the 50-to-65 age group have one or more medical conditions that put them at high risk of flu-related hospitalization and death.
Health officials also recommended updating the virus designation to include new versions of two type A flu strains. The overwhelming majority of last winter’s flu cases were type A.
The winter 2000-01 flu vaccine will include types A/Moscow and A/New Caledonia, two strains first identified in 1999. They will replace the A/Beijing and A/Sydney strains included in the 1999-2000 flu vaccine.
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