March 2013. Volume 9. Number 1

Should we vaccinate healthy children against influenza?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Jefferson T, Rivetti A, Di Pietrantonj C, Demicheli V, Ferroni E. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;8:CD004879.
Reviewers: Molina Arias M1, González de Dios J2.
1Servicio de Gastroenterología y Nutrición. Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz. Madrid. España.
2Departamento de Pediatría. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. España.
Correspondence: Manuel Molina Arias. Email: mma1961@gmail.com
Reception date: 12/11/2012
Acceptance date: 04/11/2012
Publication date: 12/12/2012

Abstract

Authors' conclusions: national policies for the vaccination of healthy children are based on very little reliable evidence. Influenza vaccines are efficacious in preventing cases of influenza in children older than two years of age, but little evidence is available for children younger than that. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of influenza vaccines, especially regarding inactivated virus vaccines and children under two years of age.

Reviewers' conclusions: overall review of literature shows that universal influenza vaccination may have a favourable cost-benefit ratio. Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence about vaccine efficacy in children less than two years of age. So, given the difficulties to implement systematic influenza vaccination in Spain, at this time, it seems reasonable to maintain current recommendations, awaiting new efficacy and safety studies and the development of more effective vaccines.

How to cite this article

Molina Arias M, González de Dios J. ¿Debemos vacunar frente a la gripe a todos los niños? Evid Pediatr. 2013;9:6.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Jefferson T, Rivetti A, Di Pietrantonj C, Demicheli V, Ferroni E. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;8:CD004879.
Reviewers: Molina Arias M1, González de Dios J2.
1Servicio de Gastroenterología y Nutrición. Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz. Madrid. España.
2Departamento de Pediatría. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. España.
Correspondence: Manuel Molina Arias. Email: mma1961@gmail.com
Reception date: 12/11/2012
Acceptance date: 04/11/2012
Publication date: 12/12/2012

How to cite this article

Molina Arias M, González de Dios J. ¿Debemos vacunar frente a la gripe a todos los niños? Evid Pediatr. 2013;9:6.

References

  1. Fiore AE, Uyeki TM, Broder K, Finelli L, Euler GL, Singleton JA, et al. Prevention and control of  influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010;59:1-62.
  2. Moreno Pérez D, Arístegui Fernández J, Ruiz Contreras J, Álvarez García FJ, Merino Moína M, González Hachero J, et al. Vacunación frente a la gripe estacional en la infancia y la adolescencia. Recomendaciones del CAV-AEP para la campaña 2011-2012. An Pediatr (Barc). 2012;76:44.e1-e5.
  3. Jefferson T, Rivetti A, Harnden A, Di Pietrantonj C, Demichelli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;8:CD004879.
  4. Negri E, Colombo C, Giordano L, Groth N, Apolone G, La Vecchia C. Influenza vaccine in healthy children: a meta-analysis. Vaccine. 2005;23:2851-61.
  5. Manzoli L, Schioppa F, Boccia A, Villari P. The efficacy of influenza vaccine for healthy children: a meta-analysis evaluating potential sources of variation in efficacy estimates including study quality. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26:97-106.
  6. Michiels B, Govaerts F, Remmen R, Vermeire E, Coenen S. A systematic review of the evidence on the effectiveness and risks of inactivated influenza vaccines in different target groups. Vaccine. 2011;29:9159-70.
12/12/2012

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