Childhood and adolescent influenza vaccination in Europe: A review of current policies and recommendations for the future

ABSTRACT

Children and adolescents experience some of the highest rates of influenza infection and the subsequent burden on both infected children and their parents/carers is substantial. Vaccinating children and adolescents against seasonal influenza has the potential to reduce the burden of disease in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals due to the pivotal role that younger age groups play in the transmission of infection. While countries such as the USA, Canada and the UK have consequently recommended the universal vaccination of children, the vast majority of European countries have not yet extended their vaccination policies to this age group. This review examines the rationale for childhood and adolescent vaccination against seasonal influenza and reviews current vaccination policies in Europe. We discuss key policy considerations for European countries that must be considered when extending vaccination programmes to younger age groups alongside recommendations for European policy makers based on our findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Influenza
• vaccine
• childhood
• adolescent
• policy
• Europe

Financial and competing interests disclosure

A McGuire and M Drummond received an educational grant from AstraZeneca which allowed this review to be undertaken. The research undertaken by the London School of Economics was funded by AstraZeneca. The manuscript is based on a report produced by the London School of Economics, funded by AstraZeneca, available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lseenterprise/files/2015/04/ChildhoodAndAdolescentInfluenzaVaccination.pdf. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Editorial support was provided by Talya Underwood, Prime Medical Group, London, UK and Luke Cripps, Ogilvy Healthworld, London, UK funded by AstraZeneca. The opinions, conclusions, and interpretation of the data are the responsibility of the authors.