Call for universal vaccine

Health researchers have called for a universal vaccine to ensure at risk adolescents get protected against contagious diseases.

US health chiefs already recommend a flu vaccination for vulnerable young people with protection against meningococcal disease, pertussis, and human papilloma virus added in the last three years.

However, a study of vaccinations among 18,703 teenagers from 1992 to 2002 by Harvard Medical School showed there were poor uptakes in safeguards.

Vaccination rates improved over the study period from 15 per cent from eight, but only 11 per cent of teenagers received jabs during all four seasons covered in the research.

More than half of those who were not inoculated made a health care visit.

Clinical fellow in paediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston and lead author Mari Nakamura called for less box-ticking over who could get the vaccinations.

"Influenza vaccination has been recommended for adolescents with high-risk conditions for well over a decade," the medic explained.

According to BBC News, a one-off vaccine is being developed called Acambis which could protect against all strains of flu.

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