Conflicting viewpoints re: Infant Flu Vaccination
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10648771&dopt=Abstract
Comment on:
Is it time to give influenza vaccine to healthy infants?
McIntosh K, Lieu T.
From the article:
"Both studies, but particularly that
of Izurieta and colleagues, leave considerable uncertainty about whether
influenza is responsible for all, or even most, of the excess morbidity that is
attributed to it."
"To justify routine influenza
vaccination of infants and toddlers, however, the benefit-risk ratio would need
to be very high, given the relatively small proportion of cases of severe
respiratory illness that would be prevented, the probable need for more than one
does, the uncertainties and unpredictability of antigenic variability, and need
to immunize during a period when many other vaccines are given."
Publication Types:
PMID: 10648771 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Flu shots for kids a good idea?
Two large studies show the flu is a surprisingly
common and often dangerous infection in children, and researchers say routine
flu shots should be considered for youngsters. The studies found few deaths but
lots of hospital stays, doctor visits and
unnecessary treatment with antibiotics.
(I believe this to be a misinterpretation of the
study - the term used was "excess" antibiotic use, which refers to antibiotic
use in excess of what would be expected in the absence of flu.)
This was true both for healthy children under 2 and
older, "high-risk" children with asthma, diabetes or other chronic conditions.
While urging that the flu
vaccine be considered for the young, the researchers stopped short of a flat
recommendation. Already, health agencies
recommend up to 16 vaccinations by age 2.
Giving millions of children annual flu shots raises questions of logistics,
safety and cost effectiveness. "I don't think there will be a in the
recommendations until all those issues are thrashed out," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda,
chief of epidemiology in the influenza branch of the Centers for Disease control
and Prevention, which conducted one of the studies. The research was reported in
the New England Journal of Medicine (Jan 24, 2000). Currently, pediatric
vaccination guidelines call for yearly flu shots only for high-risk children and
others in the household. Experts estimate as few as 10 percent of high-risk
children get the shots.
"We're already giving so many
immunizations. I'm not really convinced we have enough information to justify
adding this one for all children", said Dr. Chitra Reddy, director of the
pediatric ambulatory service at New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
Dr. Kathleen Maletic Neuzil, an infectious-disease
specialist at University of Washington in Seattle who led the other study, said
routinely vaccinating school-age children, who often bring flu home, and working
parents might make sense. Flu shots cannot be given before 6 months and work
poorly in the youngest children. A flu vaccine that is sprayed up the nose is
under development and could spare youngsters the pain of a shot. If the vaccine
proves safe, it I could lead to new recommendations that all children get
vaccinated against influenza, said Dr. S. Michael Marcy, a specialist at Kaiser
Foundation Hospital in Los Angeles.
Flu Hits Babies As Hard
As Grandparents
Other experts say more convincing
data are needed to justify the costs of a recommendation of annual flu
vaccination for all children.