Influenza vaccination in kids, are you kidding me?

Abstract

Seasonal influenza infections cause a high burden of disease for the whole community every year. Effective vaccines are available and used worldwide in adults and children. Discussion is ongoing as to whether influenza vaccination for children should be implemented in the National Immunization Program (NIP). Is there enough evidence to support routine influenza vaccination in children? In this review we briefly discuss the influenza viruses and the available vaccines. Subsequently, the current data available on influenza vaccination is reviewed and weighed against the Dutch criteria for the introduction of new vaccines into the NIP.