Provisional figures from PHE show that the childhood flu vaccine has been effective in the UK protecting both children and communities.
The figures show that overall the vaccine was 57.6% effective in preventing influenza infection among children in 2015 to 2016.
The flu vaccine was also piloted in a number of schools across England in 2014 and 2015. In areas where the flu vaccine was piloted there was a 94% reduction in GP influenza like illness consultation rates, 74% reduction in A&E respiratory attendances and 93% reduction in hospital admissions due to confirmed influenza in primary school children. In the same pilot areas, GP influenza like illness consultation rates for adults were 59% lower compared to non-pilot areas.
Richard Pebody, head of flu surveillance for PHE, said that there was no need to change current recommendations regarding use of the children’s nasal spray vaccine in the UK.
'We’re delighted that the UK leads the way in offering this vaccine to children and we remain confident that the vaccines used in the Annual Flu Vaccine programme are the most effective that are currently available in protecting both those vaccinated and in reducing transmission of the flu virus in our communities. We will continue to keep the vaccines used in our programmes under review and to take advice from our independent expert scientific committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI),' he added.
From October 2016, the vaccine will be extended to healthy children in school year 3 in England. Once again children aged two, three and four years old will also receive the free vaccine.
PHE will publish a complete report in late summer 2016.
PHE recently confirmed the use of the children’s nasal spray for the 2016 to 2017 flu vaccination programme through its annual flu plan and letter.