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Influenza vaccines in children

Kathleen M Neuzil1, Kathryn M Edwards

  • 1Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.

Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
|August 30, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Influenza vaccines, including inactivated and live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), are safe and effective for children. Further research will determine LAIV

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Influenza poses significant health risks to children, leading to hospitalizations and increased healthcare utilization.
  • Young children and those with chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to severe influenza outcomes.
  • Physician visits and antibiotic prescriptions increase during influenza season for pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of influenza vaccines in children.
  • To compare inactivated influenza vaccine with investigational live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
  • To inform potential recommendations for routine influenza vaccination in children.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and postlicensure data on influenza vaccines in pediatric populations.
  • Evaluation of safety and tolerability profiles of different vaccine types.
  • Assessment of immunogenicity and efficacy data from controlled studies.

Main Results:

  • Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine is well-tolerated and effective in children, supported by extensive clinical and postlicensure data.
  • Investigational live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) administered intranasally shows promise, with demonstrated tolerability and efficacy in a large trial for children aged 15-71 months.
  • Both vaccine types show favorable safety and efficacy profiles in pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

  • Influenza vaccines are a critical tool for protecting children against seasonal influenza.
  • Live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) offers an alternative administration route and demonstrates efficacy, pending further safety and coadministration data.
  • Future recommendations may expand routine influenza vaccination for young children based on ongoing research.

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