Recent research showed the importance of flu vaccination in protecting children against respiratory diseases.

Two year study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center has shown that the administration of all recommended flu vaccines to kids reduces their likelihood of catching the respiratory virus, due to which many children are hospitalised every year.

Researchers studied data collected from 2,500 children aged 6 months to 5 years.  Researchers found that "partly" vaccinated children got no protection. The study also showed that only 6 per cent of the children in the study were fully vaccinated in 2003-2004, and 19 per cent were fully vaccinated in 2004-2005.

Katherine Eisenberg, B.A., M.D., Ph.D. candidate at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry said: "Conservatively, we can estimate that vaccination for flu could prevent 2,250 hospitalizations and between 270,000 and 650,000 doctor visits for children if half of US children 6 months to 5 years old were vaccinated."

Peter Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of Pediatrics and Community and Preventive Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center said: "Children are notorious for unintentionally spreading illnesses. If we can prevent them from getting sick in he first place, we can prevent their loved ones from getting sick, especially younger siblings under 6 months who can't receive the vaccine and older grandparents who are at increased risk of complications from the flu."