Seasonal vaccination of children against the flu: a European study

The European Paediatric Influenza Analysis Group (EPIA) has been established to study the advantages and disadvantages of influenza vaccination for children in eight countries.

In the U.S. children are vaccinated against influenza each winter, whereas in Europe, this is not a standard procedure. The vaccination program in the U.S. continues to expand. Originally, children from 6 months to 2 years were recommended for vaccination, then children under 5 years and now recommendations include all children up to 18 years. Europe is reluctant to expand their guidelines, widening the gap between the US and Europe even further. In Western Europe, only Finland has a special vaccination programme for children. In the Netherlands, persons at risk are vaccinated, as well as people aged 60 and older.

An expert panel from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) found that in Europe there were insufficient data to make a decision about paediatric influenza vaccination. The European Paediatric Influenza Analysis Group (EPIA) has been established to determine how many children suffer from severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death and what the costs are of vaccination. NIVEL has been asked to organise the project in Europe, because of its experience with EISS (European Influenza Surveillance Scheme), in which it tracked influenza activity in Europe for many years.