Seasonal influenza is associated with a significant burden of illness and health resource utilisation in children. The purpose of this scoping report was to provide a preliminary assessment of the currently available evidence for universal influenza vaccination of children in order to inform consideration by the Minister for Health of extending the seasonal influenza vaccination programme to include healthy children.

On 18 May 2020, the Minister for Health announced that influenza vaccination would be provided for all children between 2 and 12 years from this winter 2020/2021.