The UK health department officials have proposed the administration of flu vaccine to all children less than 2 years of age, in an attempt to prevent the incidence of seasonal flu. The dreadful condition, which affects nearly 5 to 10% of the population during winter, had claimed the valuable lives of over 1000 UK citizens, last year.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that addresses important medical issues and provides related advice to the Government has taken up the issue for a critical evaluation. The above move is anticipated to relieve the burden on the National Health Services (NHS), as it would save the trouble of treating a large number of cases, each year.This proposed prophylactic measure has raised concerns of overloading toddlers with vaccinations, among anxious parents. Voices have also been raised against a possible association with autism, a form of developmental disorder.
A recent study had established that aged, susceptible individuals tend to catch infection from children. Furthermore, the incidence of seasonal flu could be cut down by 91%, if children were vaccinated.
Currently, children receive a total of 21 shots before the end of 2 years that includes three doses of Pediacel jab for protection against five major childhood infections. They also receive three shots of Meningitec (to protect against meningitis) and a single shot of MMR for triple protection against mumps, measles and rubella.
The question of whether it is acceptable to overdose children with vaccines for the sake of protecting pensioners, who have been already vaccinated, is yet to resolved.
