Universal vaccination against the flu could help slow the spread of the disease in the future, according to a recent study into the efficacy of flu vaccines. The clinical trial conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) examined the efficacy of Fluarix Tetra (inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine [IIV4]) in children aged six to 35 months.
The findings published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found vaccine efficacy in young children was highest against cases of moderate-to-severe influenza. It demonstrated that immunization with Fluarix Tetra reduced the impact of the flu, cutting the likelihood of a trip to the doctor, use of antibiotics as a treatment, and parental absences from work, by as much as half.
Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer (CMO) of GSK Vaccines, noted the latest study is the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in infants and young children. “It adds to the growing body of evidence to support universal vaccination including all children from six months of age to help prevent influenza in this age group, as well as the spread of influenza across the community,” he asserted.
The GSK CMO observed young children are among those in the high-risk category for influenza as infants and children are more susceptible to severe cases of the disease or complications arising as a result of the flu. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of immunizing children against the flu as they often “play a major role in the dissemination of influenza across the community”.
Each year, the flu is responsible for as many as 650,000 deaths worldwide, with the recent 2017-18 flu season experiencing particularly high numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, according to figures from the World Health Organisation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed influenza A viruses (H3N2) were predominant in the United States. Typically, flu vaccines have lower efficacy levels against H3N2 viruses than influenza B (H1N1) strains.
In the United States around two in five children and adults, and nearly four out of ten children between six months and 17 years of age, were immunized against the flu by November 2017, CDC figures revealed. However, vaccination rates among adults aged 18-49 declined by 3.7 percentage points compared to figures from the same period the preceding year.
Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers about fraudulent flu medications and products being sold by certain online pharmacies. It urged caution when purchasing medication and to be particularly wary of any retailer offering to sell prescription medication without patients having a prescription from their physician. Other telltale signs identified by the agency included “too good to be true” prices, pharmacies located outside the US or which ship overseas, and those that do not have a US state-licensed pharmacist to answer customer questions.
Many drugs are available, both over-the-counter and on prescription, to treat the symptoms of the flu. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is specifically indicated to treat the flu, helping reduce symptoms such as nasal congestion, coughs, fever, aches and tiredness. The drug can also reduce recovery time by one or two days. Other drugs used to treat the symptoms of the flu include general pain-relieving and fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol, and decongestants, for example, Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hcl).
