Flu vaccination is recommended annually, particularly for people at risk such as those over 65, those with obesity, those suffering from chronic illnesses, pregnant women and caregivers.
Recently, the High Authority for Health (HAS) also recommended influenza vaccination – without making it compulsory – for all children and adolescents, from 2 to 17 years old, even without associated illnesses (comorbidities). Studies show good tolerance and effectiveness of vaccines to prevent influenza infection in 2 – 17 year olds, 78% for live attenuated vaccines, and 64% for inactivated vaccines. These vaccines also have the ability, when the person contracts the infection, to reduce its severity.
The flu affects everyone
Professionals from the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA) warn: the 2023-2024 winter season was no exception, with a high incidence of influenza affecting all age groups, an increase in medical consultations as well as a high rate of school and professional absenteeism.
According to the report from Public Health France, the flu epidemic extended from the end of December to the end of February, over a total of 10 weeks. 1.5 million consultations for influenza-like illness (Sentinelles network) were recorded and the severity of the epidemic was classified as moderate with 14,000 hospitalizations after going to the emergency room.
According to a survey conducted by mpedia, the AFPA general public site dedicated to parenting support, only 20% of parents surveyed are informed of this recommendation while 80% of health professionals are..
Among those informed, 20% were informed by the media and nearly 40% by a health professional. About 75% of parents do not consider it important to vaccinate their children against the flu, or are not sure. In addition, 85% of parents have never heard of a nasal flu vaccine for children aged 2 to 17, and those who were aware of it mostly learned about it through the media. Ultimately, the data collected by health insurance reveals insufficient vaccination coverage among children.
Flu, 5 vaccines authorized for children
Parents are largely unaware of the dangers of the flu for their children. Still according to the mpedia survey, more than half of the parents surveyed consider the flu to be an unserious illness in children. Furthermore, although 70% of doctors support influenza vaccination, a majority of parents have not received information on this subject. In fact, vaccination is rarely offered to children who do not have risk factors.
Among children at risk, suffering from chronic illnesses, only 50% were vaccinated this year. Both parents and health professionals agree that the vaccine administered nasally could make vaccination easier. If five vaccines have marketing authorization in children, the HAS has issued a preferential recommendation for the intranasal vaccine. One might think that this simpler method of administration (spraying into the nose) would be better accepted by children and their parents.
Children are epidemic centers
The public health benefits of good vaccination coverage for 2-17 year olds are multiple. First of all, an individual advantage, aimed at protecting against the consequences of the disease. Indeed, children under 15 years old, in particular those aged 2 to 5 years old, represent a significant proportion of cases of influenza syndrome observed in community medicine consultations (9% for those under 2 years old, 19% for 2-5 year olds, 15% for 6-14 year olds) but also in emergencies (14% for under 2 year olds, 23% for 2-5 year olds, 15% for 6-14 year olds).
This even though these age groups only represent 2%, 5% and 11% of the population respectively! Then, there is a so-called “indirect” individual advantage: this vaccination could reduce the burden of influenza in pediatric wards. Finally, a collective advantage remains too little known: children are the real reservoir of influenza viruses. By vaccinating them, we can hope to limit the spread of the disease within the general population and thus protect the elderly and those at risk of severe forms.
