Influenza and influenza vaccines for children

Influenza is viral disease with very typical clinical symptoms of sudden onset, high fever, coughing, sore throat, muscle pain and headache. The morbidity is highest for children whereby infants substantially contribute to spreading the disease. Infants and babies are often severely affected and must be hospitalized. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends the implementation of routine influenza immunization of healthy children between 6 and 59 months old. As conventional trivalent influenza vaccines (TIV) are not optimal for protection young children more effective vaccines are needed. Since 2011 a live attenuated influenza vaccine has been approved for the age group 2-17 years old which provides children with better protection against influenza than conventional TIV. A further possibility for increased effectiveness is coupling TIV with an adjuvant. A virosomal vaccine is available for children over 6 months old. Antigen enhancement of TIV in infants and young children may lead to better protection rates.