R.I. gets high marks for flu vaccines

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rhode Island does the best job of vaccinating seniors from the flu, according to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data show that 81 percent of Rhode Island adults 65 years and older are fully vaccinated, which is the highest percentage in the country.

Flu kills about 36,000 Americans a year and hospitalizes about 200,000. The numbers also show that 47.6 percent of Rhode Island children between 6 and 23 months are vaccinated, along with 42 percent of people between 18 and 49.

Until now, flu vaccine was recommended only for children under 5 and those with chronic health problems like asthma but now for the first time, the CDC is advising that every child age 6 months to 18 years be inoculated, unless they have a serious egg allergy.