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13 November
2001
At-risk children up
to the age of 12 years should be given a second ‘flu jab
The British National
Formulary (BNF) announced today that children up to the age of 12 years, who
are considered to be at high risk (because of a medical condition) and have not
been vaccinated previously, should be given a second dose of influenza vaccine
at least 4 weeks after the first dose.
Currently the BNF
recommends a second dose for at-risk children aged 6–35 months who have not
previously been infected or vaccinated against influenza. The next issue, which
will be published in March 2002, will be updated to show that at-risk children
under 12 years may require a second dose. For children aged over 36 months the
dose of influenza vaccine is 0.5 mL.
The recommendation follows
discussions with the vaccine manufacturers and the Department of Health.
Further information on
those considered to be at risk and dose statements for influenza vaccines can
be found on pp. 579–80 of BNF 42 (September 2001) or online at BNF.org
The entire content of
the BNF is a available online at BNF.org
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