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List flu vax for kids say academics as Aust faces worst
season
on record
Posted 15 August 2017
Leading academics have called for the influenza vaccine to be listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for children as Australia heads for its worst flu season on record, surpassing even pandemic years.
Reported flu cases have exceeded 70,000 nationally to date despite widely promoted flu vaccination, which academics say is on average 60 per cent effective and did prevent the season from being even worse.
"The vaccine is likely to have prevented a much more severe spread and a much more severe year," NSW Health's Senior Medical Virologist Professor Bill Rawlinson said.
Professor Paul Van Buynder from the Immunisation Coalition in Queensland labelled 10 to 19-year-olds "super spreaders" as state data showed this age group to have the highest reported incidence of flu.
He said the vaccination rate in children of less than 10 per cent was contributing to the high levels of flu as children passed it on to parents and grandparents.
"We've had a recommendation through to the Special Technical Advisory Group to list influenza vaccine for over a decade and it hasn't happened," Van Buynder said.
"These children not only spread the virus in the community but they do suffer significant consequences themselves, particularly under the age of five."
Prof Van Buynder said in the US where the influenza vaccine is government subsidised, coverage rates are at 50 per cent.
"I am disappointed that an argument that it would be difficult to deliver the program [in Australia] is preventing us from protecting children," he said.
"Parents believe this is not important because it's not funded but this is very important and it should be funded. We are certainly hoping there would be a change in national policy over the next few years."
Professor Lou Irving from Melbourne Health said there was "a strong public health reason, including the transmission" for listing the vaccine for children.
"It should be supported," he said.
While supportive of childhood flu vaccinations, Prof Van Buynder said he did not support pharmacies vaccinating children.
The academics said trials were in place looking for a more universal influenza vaccine that was less dependent on matching the vaccine to the prevalent strains circulating in a given season.
"We're always looking for better vaccines and so we need more research," Irving said "That includes how to better use the current vaccine."
"What we hope for is a universal vaccine and there have been a number of trials of that. There is some hope but unfortunately there is not one available yet."
Megan Brodie
megan.brodie@lushmedia.com.au
Posted 15 August 2017
Leading academics have called for the influenza vaccine to be listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for children as Australia heads for its worst flu season on record, surpassing even pandemic years.
Reported flu cases have exceeded 70,000 nationally to date despite widely promoted flu vaccination, which academics say is on average 60 per cent effective and did prevent the season from being even worse.
"The vaccine is likely to have prevented a much more severe spread and a much more severe year," NSW Health's Senior Medical Virologist Professor Bill Rawlinson said.
Professor Paul Van Buynder from the Immunisation Coalition in Queensland labelled 10 to 19-year-olds "super spreaders" as state data showed this age group to have the highest reported incidence of flu.
He said the vaccination rate in children of less than 10 per cent was contributing to the high levels of flu as children passed it on to parents and grandparents.
"We've had a recommendation through to the Special Technical Advisory Group to list influenza vaccine for over a decade and it hasn't happened," Van Buynder said.
"These children not only spread the virus in the community but they do suffer significant consequences themselves, particularly under the age of five."
Prof Van Buynder said in the US where the influenza vaccine is government subsidised, coverage rates are at 50 per cent.
"I am disappointed that an argument that it would be difficult to deliver the program [in Australia] is preventing us from protecting children," he said.
"Parents believe this is not important because it's not funded but this is very important and it should be funded. We are certainly hoping there would be a change in national policy over the next few years."
Professor Lou Irving from Melbourne Health said there was "a strong public health reason, including the transmission" for listing the vaccine for children.
"It should be supported," he said.
While supportive of childhood flu vaccinations, Prof Van Buynder said he did not support pharmacies vaccinating children.
The academics said trials were in place looking for a more universal influenza vaccine that was less dependent on matching the vaccine to the prevalent strains circulating in a given season.
"We're always looking for better vaccines and so we need more research," Irving said "That includes how to better use the current vaccine."
"What we hope for is a universal vaccine and there have been a number of trials of that. There is some hope but unfortunately there is not one available yet."
Megan Brodie
megan.brodie@lushmedia.com.au
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