Questions of cost-effectiveness, vaccine efficacy and feasibility are yet to be answered
In the United States, routine immunisation of all healthy children aged 6–23 months against influenza has recently been introduced. The principal justification for this is the relatively high morbidity and mortality from this disease in very young children.1 The United States is also considering routine influenza immunisation of all children aged over 6 months, in view of the herd protection it would provide to the adult population.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Harper SA, Fukuda K, Uyeki TM, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2004; 53(RR-6): 1-40.
- 2. National Health and Medical Research Council. The Australian immunisation handbook. 8th ed. Canberra: NHMRC, 2003: 166-175.
- 3. Neuzil KM, Mellen BG, Wright PF, et al. Effect of influenza on hospitalization, outpatient visits and courses of antibiotics in children. N Engl J Med 2000; 342: 225-231.
- 4. Izurieta HS, Thompson WW, Kramarz P, et al. Influenza and the rates of hospitalization for respiratory disease among infants and young children. N Engl J Med 2000; 342: 232-239.
- 5. Neuzil KM, Wright PF, Mitchel EF Jr, Griffin MR. The burden of influenza illness in children with asthma and other chronic medical conditions. J Pediatr 2000; 137: 856-864.
- 6. Reichert TA, Sugaya N, Fedson DS, et al. The Japanese experience with vaccinating schoolchildren against influenza. N Engl J Med 2001; 344: 889-896.
- 7. Hoberman A, Greenberg DP, Paradise JL, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing acute otitis media in young children: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003; 290: 1608-1616.
- 8. Ruben FL. Inactivated influenza virus vaccines in children. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38: 678-688.
- 9. Zangwill KM, Belshe RB. Safety and immunogenicity of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in young children: a summary for the new era of routine vaccination. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004; 23: 189-200.
- 10. Jefferson T, Smith S, Demichelli V, et al. Assessment of the efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines in healthy children: systematic review. Lancet 2005; 365: 773-780.
- 11. Harper SA, Fukuda K, Cox NJ, Bridges CB; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Using live attenuated influenza vaccine for prevention and control of influenza: supplemental recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2003; 52(RR-13): 1-8.
- 12. Meltzer MI, Neuzil KM, Griffin MR, Fukuda K. An economic analysis of annual influenza vaccination of children. Vaccine 2005; 23: 1004-1014.
- 13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Estimated influenza vaccination coverage among adults and children — United States, September 1, 2004—January 31, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005; 54: 304-307.
- 14. Langley JM, Faughnan ME. Prevention of influenza in the general population. CMAJ 2004; 171: 1213-1222.
- 15. Grant VJ, Le Saux N, Plint AC, et al. Factors influencing childhood influenza immunization. CMAJ 2003; 168: 39-41.
- 16. Szilagyi PG, Iwane MK, Schaffer S, et al. Potential burden of universal influenza vaccination of young children on visits to primary care practices. Pediatrics 2003; 112: 821-828.
I thank Professor Peter McIntyre, Director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, for his helpful suggestions on the manuscript.
Gerald Watts is a member of the advisory boards for Merck Sharp and Dohme, Pfizer and AstraZeneca in Australia.