JCVI recommends review into lowering age to 50 years for flu vaccine

3 August 2005

The UK Vaccine Industry Group supports the recommendation from the JCVI influenza subgroup to review the benefits of lowering the age from 65 to 50 years for routine flu vaccination.

The UK Vaccine Industry Group supports the intention of the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) Influenza sub-group to review the benefits of lowering the age from 65 to 50 years for routine flu vaccination.

“This decision is timely” said Paul Rayner, Chair of the UK Vaccine Industry Group “The evidence clearly supports the public health benefit of lowering the age and in creating an environment which encourages industry to invest in capacity that will eventually lead to the Government achieving its goal of vaccinating the whole of the UK population in the event of a pandemic whilst also enabling the industry to respond effectively.”

Key facts about flu vaccination:
- Vaccination against flu reduces the possibility of death as a result of flu infection by as much as 75% and prevents 43-63% of deaths from influenza associated respiratory illness
- Generally the risks of serious complications and death associated with influenza can be avoided through repeated annual flu vaccination