Flu Shots for Tots Ineffective

And even with the recent findings, many experts still warn about the potentially fatal outcome of passing over the flu vaccine this season. Even possible protection from the vaccine outweighs the risk of getting the flu, said Dr. Devang Doshi, director of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

"Our prevention is as good as our vaccines are," said Doshi. "If we can optimize [the flu vaccine], I think we'll be in better shape than we were in previous years."

Superbug: Flu Shot Still Important?

The second study this week may give one of the most compelling reasons to give your child a flu shot this year. In a report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, researchers found that MRSA contributed to 30 percent of flu deaths in the 2006-2007 flu season. The studies also showed an increase over the past three years in the proportion of children who both died from influenza and became infected with MRSA.

MRSA is a drug-resistant superbug that typically piggybacks on the flu and can cause outbreaks of deadly pneumonia. According to Doshi, bacterial pneumonia is a secondary complication resulting from the flu. Secondary infections, more often than the flu itself, increase the risk of death from the flu.

"We know that influenza has been around for a long time, and the risk for not being immunized is very high," said Doshi. "The secondary complications are getting worse in ways of prevention, so we need to look at preventing the flu."

Although flu shots do not guarantee protection from MRSA pneumonia or other respiratory infections, Finelli said protection from symptoms that attract MRSA is all the more reason to get a flu shot this season.

"You can't prevent the bacteria, but if you prevent the flu, you prevent the co-infection," said Finelli. "These infections together are more fatal than one alone."

Partial Protection Better Than None

With hopes of encouraging the public to vaccinate, the CDC recently released a video testimonial of families who have lost children from complications related to the flu. In an emotional confession, each family claims their child's death could have been prevented by the flu vaccine.