[Anti-influenza vaccination in children]

Abstract

Due to new methods, including genic recombination, four anti-influenza vaccines are now available: whole inactivated virus vaccine; surface antigen (sub-unit); disrupted virus (split virus); live attenuated virus (used only in the USSR). The safest vaccine at the present time is the split vaccine, as it has been used on large populations (including children) for many years in Japan. Moreover, this is the only vaccine used in the USA on children (over three years of age). Systemic side effects of the split vaccine are exceptional (1 case in 5 million of subjects vaccinated) while local redness or fever are relatively more frequent. The following considerations make vaccination advisable in paediatrics: the increase in number of inpatients with respiratory and other diseases (e.g. febrile convulsions) during influenza epidemics; influenza is a diffuse and highly contagious disease which spreads in the population from children to adults. The split vaccine is not available in Italy, therefore vaccination in our country is limited to children at high risk for influenza related complications. As well as subjects aged over 65, the following children especially need to be vaccinated: patients with chronic disorders of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems (chronic asthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary disease due to inhalation) and some metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or Addison's disease.