The Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) recommends influenza vaccination for all children between 6 and 56 months (4.6 years) due to the withdrawal of containment measures against covid and the absence of immunological stimuli due to the lack of exposure to influenza viruses in the past season, since “it could lead to an increase in the incidence of influenza this autumn-winter”.
The flu vaccination campaign will begin in October and the coincidence of this virus with SARS-CoV-2 could lead to an increased risk for the most vulnerable population. This recommendation is made based on the review of the existing literature on the effectiveness and safety of vaccines and the analysis of the experience of previous seasons, and taking into account that it has already been proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
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The reasons that justify this new recommendation are the difficulty in choosing viral strains for this season’s vaccine and the absence of immunological stimuli due to the decrease in flu cases last autumn-winter .
Has almost disappeared
The near disappearance of the flu last season thanks to the hygienic measures put in place against covid-19 constitutes an additional difficulty in choosing the viral strains that flu vaccines should contain for the current season. On the other hand, the absence of immunological stimuli due to the lack of exposures to influenza viruses in the past season could condition a different behavior – and an increase in the incidence – of the seasonal influenza epidemic in the coming months.
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In its document, the CAV-AEP recommends influenza vaccination in childhood and adolescence, in addition to all children between 6 and 59 months of age, children from 5 years of age and adolescents with underlying diseases or certain situations that pose an increased risk of complications from the flu; and people from the age of 5 who live with patients at risk; and people who live with children under 6 months.
In addition, it is again recommended to pregnant women , both for their own protection and that of their future child, at any time during pregnancy; and to all healthcare professionals.
On the other hand, it is recommended to use tetravalent influenza vaccines, both inactivated for intramuscular use and attenuated for the intranasal route, and inoculate the full dose of 0.5 ml of inactivated vaccines at any age (always from 6 months of age). life).
