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A veteran of Australian immunisation policy has called for an updated program recommending cell-grown influenza vaccine over the standard dose egg-grown equivalent, arguing it would result in a significant public health benefit.

Associate Professor John Litt (pictured), a retired academic GP and public health physician from Flinders University in Adelaide, says the recent inclusion of the cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine, Flucelvax Quad, in the National Immunisation Program, is a “step in the right direction”.

However, he says that based on the latest data, a preferential recommendation for cell-based flu vaccine for everybody aged under 65 would be a good next step.