tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Last winter, all children under five were offered immunisation against swine flu on the NHS after the virus emerged and developed into a pandemic.
In the summer however, a Government advisory committee recommended that should not be repeated this winter.
Instead, with the pandemic over, the swine flu jab was incorporated into this year's seasonal flu vaccine, which is only offered to young children on the NHS if they are at particular risk because of an underlying medical condition.
In the past few weeks however, the number of cases of flu in England and Wales has increased sharply, fuelled in part by many young people contracting swine flu. Experts have warned that the first flu epidemic for a decade could take hold in the New Year when young children return to school after the Christmas break.
Yesterday, the Department of Health disclosed that the issue of whether healthy under fives should be vaccinated would now be subject to a lengthy review, which could lead to them receiving the seasonal flu vaccine on the NHS next year.
...
In January, the majority of members on the JCVI's flu sub-group agreed "that it would be prudent to include children aged between six months and under five years in the 2010/2011 seasonal influenza programme", possibly with the H1N1 vaccine.
But in July, this advice was not taken up the full committee, which draws up the Government?s vaccination programme. It recommended that under fives should not be offered the seasonal flu jab this winter, even though swine flu (H1N1) is a major strain in the current flu wave.
..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8228455/Flu-jab-for-under-fives-decision-to-be-reviewed.html
In the summer however, a Government advisory committee recommended that should not be repeated this winter.
Instead, with the pandemic over, the swine flu jab was incorporated into this year's seasonal flu vaccine, which is only offered to young children on the NHS if they are at particular risk because of an underlying medical condition.
In the past few weeks however, the number of cases of flu in England and Wales has increased sharply, fuelled in part by many young people contracting swine flu. Experts have warned that the first flu epidemic for a decade could take hold in the New Year when young children return to school after the Christmas break.
Yesterday, the Department of Health disclosed that the issue of whether healthy under fives should be vaccinated would now be subject to a lengthy review, which could lead to them receiving the seasonal flu vaccine on the NHS next year.
...
In January, the majority of members on the JCVI's flu sub-group agreed "that it would be prudent to include children aged between six months and under five years in the 2010/2011 seasonal influenza programme", possibly with the H1N1 vaccine.
But in July, this advice was not taken up the full committee, which draws up the Government?s vaccination programme. It recommended that under fives should not be offered the seasonal flu jab this winter, even though swine flu (H1N1) is a major strain in the current flu wave.
..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8228455/Flu-jab-for-under-fives-decision-to-be-reviewed.html