The annual flu season will soon be upon us, peaking anywhere from October to May. This year there are additional concerns about the swine flu virus.

The flu is a viral illness with symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat, aches, chills and fatigue, and also can result in more severe symptoms including pneumonia. It is the No. 1 vaccine preventable illness in the United States. Vaccinations could help prevent many of the nearly 60 million illnesses, 25 million doctor visits, 225,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths that occur each year resulting from the flu.

Children play a major role in the initiation and spread of influenza outbreaks because of hygiene and close quarters at schools. Influenza is spread by coughing, sneezing, hand-to-hand contact and by touching contaminated surfaces. Children are contagious before they show signs of illness and up to 10 days after symptoms begin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics and other national organizations recommend that all children age 6 months to 18 years get a flu vaccine yearly. Despite these recommendations fewer than 30 percent of American children are fully vaccinated against seasonal influenza. While older adults should also be vaccinated yearly, studies have shown the best way to protect grandparents is to vaccinate grandchildren.

There are two ways to increase the vaccination rates of children: earlier availability of the vaccine so more can be given in doctors' offices and expanded sites — most importantly schools — to give the vaccine.

School-based vaccine programs have resulted in less flulike symptoms in children and family members, less use of prescription and over the counter medicines, fewer doctor visits and lower school absentee rates. The lower school absenteeism, in turn, lowers the rates at which parents miss work to care for sick children. School and community-based influenza vaccination programs have also proved to reduce the burden of influenza on adults living with the vaccinated children

Two types of flu vaccines are available. The inactivated (killed) vaccine, or the "flu shot," can be given to children greater than 6 months of age. The live attenuated (weakened) vaccine, "FluMist," can be given to most children older than age 2. Ask your doctor which vaccination type is most appropriate for your child and discuss the availability of influenza vaccine with your doctor in your medical home. To ensure that your home and school are safe from flu infections, encourage your school to consider voluntary yearly vaccination programs.

Dr. Howard Schlansky is a pediatrician with St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital. For more information about flu vaccinations, visit www.stjohnsmercychildrenshospital.org. For more information about setting up a school-based vaccination program, call 314-251-6299.