Flu jabs for under-5s would be ‘impossible to manage’ (From Echo)

Flu jabs for under-5s would be ‘impossible to manage’

5:00am Tuesday 5th August 2008 in

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PLANS to give children flu vaccines would be almost impossible to manage, according to south Essex doctors.

The national Health Protection Agency has said an annual injection for children under the age of five could help protect everyone.

This is because children often spread the virus as they have low immune systems and close contact with family and friends.

Dr Peter Glover, of Church View Surgery, in Rayleigh High Street, said he could understand the potential benefits, but the scheme would be difficult to work.

He said: “The logistics would be enormous for this.

“Firstly, in the past we’ve had trouble with supply.

“A lot of the time we have a job to persuade mothers to get vaccinations for their children. This is another one to add to it.”

Dr Glover said there could also be problems as the adult program requires an injection every year because the strain keeps changing.

He added: “If it was an injection each year I don’t know how keen mums would be.”

The side-effects of the vaccination in children are not yet known, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation. In 2005 the committee advised more work needed to be done before flu immunisation in children could be considered.

Dr Nanjit Siani, of the Westcliff Surgery, in Argyll Road, said he would be concerned about the effect of the vaccine on children.

He said: “My personal opinion is the children have got enough immunisations at the moment and I think more could compromise their immune system.

“It’s not protecting the children – they don’t really die from the flu themselves – so it’s to protect everybody else.”

Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said vaccinating young children could be beneficial, but more research was needed.