This is an excerpt from the Oct. 7th, 2013 CDC Expert Commentary with Dr. Peacock:
“We learned much from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, including that more than 40% of children reported to have died from flu-related causes had an underlying neurologic condition — the most common 2 conditions being intellectual disability and epilepsy. for caregivers and physicians about influenza vaccination practices for use with children who have neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Findings from this report reflect the United States 2011-2012 influenza season and show that only 50% of parents of children with special needs intended to vaccinate their child or had their child vaccinated against flu, in spite of the increased risk for serious complications and death from flu for children in this group. The report also showed that physician awareness about this risk was low. Since 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has included cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, and other neurologic disorders as high-risk conditions associated with complications from influenza.”