In a position statement, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends an extension of the annual routine influenza vaccination programme to include low risk children aged 2 to 16 years using the live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine (Fluenz™).
The Committee considers that the implementation of this recommendation requires very careful planning and handling, particularly since current resources are insufficient to deliver an expanded programme. Additionally the Committee suggest that implementation should be withheld until the large scale restructuring of the health and public health system in England has been completed and the new system is running smoothly.
Until then, the Committee recommends that the current influenza vaccination programme should continue to target all those aged 65 years and older and those aged six months to below 65 years in the influenza clinical risk groups (including pregnant women) for whom the burden of influenza is greatest. Increases in vaccine uptake in clinical risk groups are likely to be cost effective and should remain a priority, particularly for the youngest age groups where influenza vaccine uptake is poorest.