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U.S. child flu vaccination rate increases

ATLANTA, June 9 (UPI) -- Influenza season vaccination coverage for 2010/2011 increased among U.S. children to 49 percent from 42 percent the flu season before, health officials say.

This preliminary finding suggests that the record high national seasonal vaccination coverage seen in 2009/2010 was sustained during the non-pandemic season of 2010/2011, says a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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In addition, the influenza vaccination rate among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children eliminated racial/ethnic disparities in child vaccination coverage, the report says.

"There was wide variation in influenza vaccination coverage between states, particularly among children, and several states had overall coverage levels for children that were above 60 percent," the report says. "The 2010/2011 flu season marked the first post-pandemic vaccination season and the first full season since the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' universal influenza vaccination recommendation went into effect."

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