Calls for flu shots for children to protect the rest of the population

Aug 5 2008

Researchers in the UK say an effective way of protecting the rest of the population from flu outbreaks, might be to vaccinate children against it.

The researchers at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) say if children under two years were vaccinated with the annual flu shot, infection would be reduced by more than a third.

The idea of vaccinating young children against flu was rejected by the the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation back in 2006, but they now say they are prepared to reconsider new evidence.

Because children have low immunity and very close contact with their families they are quite prolific spreaders of viruses and in other countries such as the U.S. flu shots are offered from the age of six months to five years.

In many other countries flu shots are offered in the main to the elderly and those at risk with conditions such as asthma which puts them at risk of serious illness from infection with the flu virus.

According to the HPA researchers immunising children between six months and two years would reduce flu in the population by up to 35% and extending the annual shot to those up to the age of five would reduce it by up to 69% in one strain and 38% in another.

Doctors support the call for an annual child flu vaccination but say it would be a huge undertaking that should not be taken lightly.