title: Central European Vaccination Advisory Group (CEVAG) guidance statement on recommendations for influenza vaccination in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza vaccination in infants and children with existing health complications is current practice in many countries, but healthy children are also susceptible to influenza, sometimes with complications. The under-recognised burden of disease in young children is greater than in elderly populations and the number of paediatric influenza cases reported does not reflect the actual frequency of influenza.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccination of healthy children is not widespread in Europe despite clear demonstration of the benefits of vaccination in reducing the large health and economic burden of influenza. Universal vaccination of infants and children also provides indirect protection in other high-risk groups in the community. This paper contains the Central European Vaccination Advisory Group (CEVAG) guidance statement on recommendations for the vaccination of infants and children against influenza. The aim of CEVAG is to encourage the efficient and safe use of vaccines to prevent and control infectious diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEVAG recommends the introduction of universal influenza vaccination for all children from the age of 6 months. Special attention is needed for children up to 60 months of age as they are at greatest risk. Individual countries should decide on how best to implement this recommendation based on their circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Clinic of Children's Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. vytautas.usonis@mf.vu.lt
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Usonis
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anca
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chlibek
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ivaskeviciene
authors.forename: Atanas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangarov
authors.forename: Zsófia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mészner
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prymula
authors.forename: Pavol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simurka
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamm
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tesović
authors.lastname: Central European Vaccination Advisory Group
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines