Air date: February 13, 2011

Host: Barbara Lewis

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Interview: Andrea Sutherland, MD, medical officer and special assistant
FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

This is the time of year when the flu season typically is at its peak. According to the CDC, the number of cases of flu-like symptoms showing up in the nation’s hospitals is about normal for mid-winter.

But the CDC and FDA are keeping a close eye on one particular aspect of the flu season: There has been an increase in the number of febrile seizures in very young children who received a flu vaccine this year. The vaccine recommended for infants and children aged 6 to 23 months is called "Fluzone."

Host Barbara Lewis speaks with Dr. Andrea Sutherland of the FDA who explained that the agencies are using a "vaccine adverse event reporting system" that collects information on any products licensed in the U.S., including the flu vaccine for infants, Fluzone.

Additional Resources:

• The website for the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
• More information on the safety of the Fluzone vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration.