"This is the first study that clearly shows that the inactivated vaccine that's available for young children these days is clearly effective, even in the age group younger than two years," he said.
The results of vaccination are actually better than those numbers suggest. In the 2007-2008 flu season, when this study was conducted, the vaccine was designed to protect against two varieties of the flu, but it turned out to be largely ineffective against type B. Against type A influenza, 10 percent of the unvaccinated under-twos got sick, but only two percent of those who were fully vaccinated got the flu.
Heikkinen does not say that young children should start getting flu shots. But he said his study - and one other study that examined the issue a few years ago - both concluded that flu vaccines can be effective and safe for this age group, so policy makers, doctors, and parents ought to at least think about it.
"I believe that the vaccine recommendations of young children will be at least reconsidered in all countries that do not vaccinate at this time."
Terho Heikkinen's study is published online by the journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
最新
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27