title: Protection of young children from influenza through universal vaccination.
abstract: Influenza is a very common disease among infants and young children, with a considerable clinical and socioeconomic impact. A significant number of health authorities presently recommend universal influenza vaccination for the pediatric population, but a large number of European health authorities is still reluctant to include influenza vaccination in their national vaccination programs. The reasons for this reluctance include the fact that the protection offered by the currently available vaccines is considered poor. This review shows that although future research could lead to an increase in the immunogenicity and potential efficacy of influenza vaccines, the available vaccines, even with their limits, assure sufficient protection in most subjects aged ≥ 6 months, thus reducing the total burden of influenza in young children and justifying the recommendation for the universal vaccination of the whole pediatric population. For younger subjects, the vaccination of their mother during pregnancy represents an efficacious strategy.
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation ; Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico ; Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation ; Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico ; Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Senatore
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation ; Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico ; Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Adjuvants; children; influenza; influenza prevention; influenza vaccine; live attenuated influenza vaccine; pregnancy; quadrivalent influenza vaccine; trivalent influenza vaccine