30.05.12
Prevention better than cure
Vaccinating healthy schoolchildren against the flu could be a sensitive topic, but one that could ultimately help to stop the spread of the disease, especially in vulnerable groups the children would come into contact with.
Additionally, an extension of the immunisation programme would require significant initial investment, in both the vaccine and the nurses available to administer it.
But vaccinating children from five years old could be incredibly cost-effective, a DH advisory committee has suggested.
Uptake of the flu vaccine has so far been limited, and the more serious implications of the disease could be restricted through further immunisation. Whether this is something which public health professionals and parents will consider worth pursuing is another matter.
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