Proposed flu vaccination expansion ‘needs more evidence’

More evidence will be required to support potential plans to make the seasonal flu vaccination programme accessible to a wider range of patients, according to a report.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has analysed the case for providing the vaccine – which is currently only distributed to at-risk groups – to healthy children as well, in order to reduce the risk of transmission.

An initial study from the Health Protection Agency suggests this could be a cost-effective measure, but the committee said more research is needed on the impact of such a scheme, as well as which vaccine options are available.

Until a firm conclusion over this issue is reached, it was stated that the government should seek to focus purely on those in priority demographics, including elderly people and pregnant women.

The government's director of immunisation Professor David Salisbury said: "Extending the vaccination programme to all healthy children under 17 would be a huge undertaking … so it is important that we get this decision absolutely right."

Earlier this month, a new pandemic preparedness strategy was launched by the Department of Health, with the aim of ensuring the UK remains one of the best-prepared countries in the world for an outbreak.