| Abstrakt: |
The burden of influenza in children is substantial but under-recognised, and extends beyond the primary infection to complications such as acute otitis media and exacerbations of asthma. The trivalent inactivated subunit vaccine Influvac® has been shown to be effective and safe in children at high risk of the complications of influenza, including those with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases, haemophilia, impaired immune response and cystic fibrosis. Two prospective controlled trials have shown that Influvac is effective and safe in healthy children, including those under five years of age. Large-scale vaccination of children with Influvac can reduce morbidity in household contacts and mortality in the elderly. These data on the safety and efficacy of Influvac are supported by the results of trials with other trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines. Although limited data are available in high-risk children, strong evidence is available from randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled or comparative trials that trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines as a class are immunogenic and safe in healthy children. However, despite the demonstrated health and financial benefits of influenza vaccination of healthy and high-risk children, uptake is generally poor. This seems contrary to the principles of evidence-based medicine, given the annual burden of influenza in children and the availability of safe and effective vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
