Two doctors from the La Paz University Children's Hospital (Madrid) and the Alicante University General Hospital, have studied the effects of influenza vaccines available in healthy children, in order to assess their efficacy, effectiveness and available safety data.
In the article 'Should we vaccinate all children against the flu?' results have been offered based on 75 papers. And as a main conclusion it has been established that 'national policies for the vaccination of influenza against healthy children are based on unreliable data'. It seems that Vaccines are effective in preventing disease in people older than two years, but there is little evidence of efficacy in children under this age. More randomized trials are needed to test the efficacy and safety of influenza vaccines, especially of VVI (inactivated vaccines) and in the group of younger children.
Regarding recommendations on influenza vaccination in Europe and the United States, there are differences, for example the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends universal vaccination in people older than six months
But nevertheless, indications for vaccinating healthy children in Europe are less frequent. Recall that in this post in the middle of the vaccination campaign, Marcos explained to us that the actions are mainly aimed at people over 60, risk groups, pregnant women or special groups (who are in contact with the sick).
The Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) recommends vaccinating those over six months belonging to risk groups and children over this age and healthy adults living with children at risk.
This is due to previous data available on the Committee on Immunization Prabaja effectiveness and efficiency of the vaccine (especially in younger children), there are few data on its safety and low acceptability (an annual intramuscular injection). M. Molina Arias and J. González de Dios are the authors of the review, these professionals they have not found differences in the secondary variables (number of secondary cases, low respiratory infection, otitis or increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions). There is some evidence that school absenteeism and caregivers decrease, but based on scarce data.
There are no worrisome data on serious adverse effects related to vaccines administered in our environment.
The global review specifies that 'universal influenza vaccination is a recommended measure in childhood', even so It seems appropriate to reiterate the current recommendations until new studies on efficacy and safety are available, and obtain more effective vaccines.
As data in children under two years are scarce, the recommendation to vaccinate children under six months should be maintained only if they belong to risk groups
And I (without being a specialist) dare to remember the need to establish (beyond vaccines: I do not vaccinate my children against the flu) other types of protection measures against infections by viruses or bacteria.
