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Are we ready for universal influenza vaccination in paediatrics?
Nicola Principi1, Susanna Esposito
1Institute of Paediatrics of the University of Milan, Italy. Nicola.Principi@unimi.it
Insights
Paediatric influenza causes significant hospitalizations and socioeconomic impacts, even in healthy children. Widespread influenza vaccination in childhood is recommended, especially for high-risk groups like infants and those in daycare.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Paediatric influenza presents a greater burden than previously recognized, leading to increased hospitalizations, medical visits, and antibiotic use.
- Influenza in children can result in significant socioeconomic consequences for both the child and their family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the medical and socioeconomic impact of paediatric influenza.
- To assess the rationale for widespread influenza vaccination in children.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on paediatric influenza burden.
- Analysis of vaccine effectiveness, safety, and economic data.
Main Results:
- Influenza contributes to excess hospitalizations, medical visits, and antibiotic prescriptions in children, particularly those under 2 years.
- Economic data suggest universal vaccination is supported when indirect effectiveness is considered.
Conclusions:
- Influenza vaccination is recommended for infants (6-23 months), children with recurrent infections, and those attending daycare or elementary schools.
- Available influenza vaccines are immunogenic, safe, well-tolerated, and effective in preventing influenza and its complications.
Abstract:
Recent studies have suggested that paediatric influenza is a greater medical problem than usually thought because it can cause excess hospitalisations, medical visits, and antibiotic prescriptions even in healthy children, especially those under 2 years. Furthermore, influenza in otherwise healthy children may have substantial socioeconomic consequences for the children and their household contacts. These findings have led many experts to encourage the more widespread use of influenza vaccine in childhood. Although the immunogenicity of the available vaccines is good and they are safe, well-tolerated, and highly effective in preventing influenza and its complications, economic data support universal vaccination only when indirect effectiveness is considered. However, infants aged 6-23 months, children with recurrent acute otitis media or respiratory-tract infections, and healthy children attending day-care centres or elementary schools should be included among the paediatric groups requiring vaccination.