Annual universal influenza vaccination: ready or not?

ABSTRACT

Influenza causes annual worldwide epidemics of respiratory disease. Currently, the United States and many other countries recommend influenza vaccination for persons who are at high risk for influenza-related complications. This commentary explores the potential benefits of a policy advocating universal annual influenza vaccination and outlines obstacles that need to be overcome to make such a recommendation feasible. The 5-year experience of a free influenza vaccination program for everyone > or =6 months of age in the Canadian province of Ontario is reviewed.