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Effectiveness and safety of influenza vaccination in children: European perspective

Terho Heikkinen1, Santtu Heinonen

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. terho.heikkinen@utu.fi

Vaccine
|August 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Influenza vaccines are effective and safe for young children, especially when vaccine strains match circulating viruses. Live attenuated influenza vaccines show greater effectiveness but are limited to older children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Growing evidence highlights the significant impact of influenza on children.
  • Interest in pediatric influenza vaccination is increasing.
  • Few European countries recommend vaccinating healthy children due to perceived ineffectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of influenza vaccines in young children.
  • To address the misconception that inactivated influenza vaccines are ineffective in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of virologically confirmed studies on influenza vaccine effectiveness in children.
  • Examination of vaccine effectiveness across different seasons and varying strain matches.

Main Results:

  • Inactivated influenza vaccines demonstrate clear effectiveness in children under 2 years during seasons with good antigenic match.
  • Live attenuated influenza vaccines offer greater effectiveness but are approved only for children over 2 years.
  • Seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines have an excellent safety profile in the youngest children.

Conclusions:

  • Influenza vaccination is a safe and effective strategy for young children.
  • Vaccine effectiveness is significantly influenced by the match between vaccine and circulating influenza strains.
  • Current recommendations should consider the proven efficacy and safety of inactivated influenza vaccines in pediatric populations.

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