UK Telegraph 30 May 2012
All children should be vaccinated against flu from the age of five to stop them spreading the illness among their families, government advisers have said.
Under the plans a new universial vaccination programme could start in the autumn of 2014 with a nasal spray vaccine, called Fluenz, that avoids the use of needles.
Schoolchildren from the age of five would be vaccinated every year. Currently only children with serious long-term illnesses are given the seasonal flu jab.
A panel of independent experts which advises the government believes the move could save lives and stop flu spreading through the general population …
It was warned that such a programme would be received with ‘very mixed opinions by parents’ and that health professionals could also object.
The committee said it would produce recommendations, which are binding on the Department of Health, at its next meeting.
The new vaccine, made by AstraZeneca, was licensed in December and contains three strains of flu. It is made using hens’ eggs so cannot be given to children with a known severe allergy.
* propagated in fertilised hens’ eggs from healthy chicken flocks.
** produced in VERO cells by reverse genetic technology. This product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
*** fluorescent focus units
This vaccine complies with the WHO recommendation (Northern Hemisphere) and EU decision for
the 20XX/20XX season.
The vaccine may contain residues of the following substances: egg proteins (e.g. ovalbumin) and
gentamicin.
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Rp3vg5xJ2PkJ:ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/2011/2011012793189/anx_93189_en.pdf+Fluenz&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg0C3zm5MbXpu7iJs46Yau1HwAD738Y59OIJhsyVSw5xtvc7JyftJGkEhnjwMVFSE6cTuPlJmzgj9fU9zKIF1R32-mSQHAjbmL79VfMrgPY5CQwzFksO-ZNztPb1xGZpNvq_F6l&sig=AHIEtbQH8saSS6Myxxy3PsrSySosASdU6w