LONDON—Dutch scientists ignited a controversy Friday by suggesting that children would be better off skipping the seasonal flu vaccine this year — a proposal flatly rejected by other health experts. Their commentary, based largely on animal studies, was published online Friday in the British medical journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The theory is that children infected with seasonal flu acquire a certain kind of immunity that might protect them against new flu outbreaks like swine flu or bird flu.
Other health officials said there was no proof that children are more likely to avoid swine flu by passing on a seasonal flu shot.
LONDON—Dutch scientists ignited a controversy Friday by suggesting that children would be better off skipping the seasonal flu vaccine this year — a proposal flatly rejected by other health experts.
Their commentary, based largely on animal studies, was published online Friday in the British medical journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The theory is that children infected with seasonal flu acquire a certain kind of immunity that might protect them against new flu outbreaks like swine flu or bird flu.
Other health officials said there was no proof that children are more likely to avoid swine flu by passing on a seasonal flu shot.