Influenza vaccination for healthy children.
Influenza virus infections cause vaccine-preventable but uncontrolled epidemic disease in the United States. Population dynamics dictate that the burden of disease will increase dramatically over the next 20 years if new strategies are not implemented. New weapons for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of influenza are now available and should be implemented immediately. The impact of disease in children has been largely overlooked. Control measures should be focused on the prevention of disease in children, who have the highest annual attack rates. The new live attenuated nasal spray influenza vaccine is particularly effective in healthy children who would benefit most from universal immunization.
Glezen
W Paul
WP
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-3498, USA. wglezen@bcm.tmc.edu
D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D053139:Oseltamivir; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000081:Acetamides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D053139:Oseltamivir