PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 655 - 9 Jun 2012

■ Vaccinating all school-age children againstinfluenza is a cost-effective means of reducinginfection rates in the overall population, according tothe Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisationwhich advises government ministers in England andWales. The committee considered various extensionsto the existing vaccination programme in thesecountries, which currently targets clinical risk groupsincluding pregnant women and the elderly, and foundthat vaccinating all children aged 5–17 years was oneof the most cost-effective options. However, routinevaccination of children should not start until at least2014 as there are currently too few school nursesavailable, and non-medical staff may need to betrained to deliver the programme.Murphy H. Vaccinating healthy children against flu is cost effective, sayscommittee. BMJ : 1 Jun 2012. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e3876 803071859

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 9 Jun 2012 No. 6551173-5503/10/0655-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved