CPS Practice Point: Vaccine recommendations for children and youth for the 2016/2017 influenza season

The Canadian Paediatric Society continues to encourage an annual influenza vaccination for ALL children and youth ?6 months of age. Recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization for the 2016/2017 influenza season include the following changes: (1) There is no longer a preference for the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) over inactivated influenza vaccine in children. Either type of vaccine may be used. (2) LAIV failure reported by the U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network has not been observed in other studies in the United States and elsewhere. NACI continues to recommend LAIV as an option. (3) Egg allergy is no longer a contraindication to receiving LAIV.