Based on findings of a recent study researchers say annual flu vaccines in children ages 16 and younger have little effect on hospitalizations, respiratory tract infections, and other key measures.
The finding was especially true for children who received an inactivated form of the flu virus in their shots. Children who received a weakened form of the live virus appeared to be somewhat more protected. However, for children under age 2 who received the inactivated form of the virus, the effect of the shot was about the same as what was seen with a sham treatment.In conclusion researchers say immunization of very young children has not shown convincing evidence that vaccines can reduce mortality, hospital admissions, serious complications, and community transmission of influenza hence they say that further study should be done to study the outcomes of vaccinating children for the flu before making it a health policy .
