Expanding flu vaccination administration to children throughout the U.K. may be a cost-effective way to decrease the current disease burden among the general population in the U.K.
A recent study suggests this has been used among the evidence U.K. health professionals have gathered to support adding a pediatric division to the nation’s current influenza vaccination program. The research shows that the cost-effectiveness is at its highest when the vaccination program includes children between the ages of five and 16 and elderly seniors.
The majority of high-income nations have recommended that people at the highest risk for complications after contracting the flu should be targeted within vaccination programs. This group includes people with metabolic disease, chronic heart disease, renal disease, lung disease, immunodeficiencies and elderly people.
Three years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued recommendations that vaccines cover all children between the ages of six and 59 months old. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the U.S. has recommended that all children living in the U.S. receive vaccinations. Both of these recommendations are based on the current high hospitalization rates for groups of younger people.
Further details are available in BMC Medicine, an open access journal.
