Immunizations help keep serious illnesses like the flu at bay. But many kids aren't thrilled by the thought of getting a shot. Luckily, they may soon have the option of a nasal spray flu vaccine — now only available to 5- to 49-year-olds — that may actually be more effective in young children than the shot.
In a large-scale study funded by MedImmune, the maker of the nasal spray vaccine FluMist, researchers randomly gave either the flu shot or flu spray to more than 7,000 kids ages 6 months to 5 years at medical facilities worldwide. According to the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, there were 55% fewer flu cases among the kids given the nasal spray than those who got the flu shot.
The study also found that the spray is not a good choice for infants — there were more hospitalizations and episodes of wheezing among the 6- to 11-month-olds given the flu spray than those given the flu shot. That's why MedImmune is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make the vaccine available to children 1 year old and up who don't have a history of asthma or wheezing.
What This Means to You
Although it may turn out to be an effective alternative for kids of all ages, the nasal flu spray isn't for everyone. Those who should not get FluMist include anyone who:
- is pregnant
- has a chronic medical condition such as asthma
- is severely allergic to eggs and egg products (ingredients for flu shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic)
- is receiving aspirin therapy
- has ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination (although most people do not experience any side effects)
- has Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves
- has a fever
Because the vaccine is made from live viruses, the nasal flu spray may cause mild flu-like symptoms — including runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. However, the flu vaccine reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80%.
It's not too late to have your child vaccinated. The flu season lasts until April. Call your doctor or local public health department to ask about vaccine availability in your area and to find out if your child can — or should — get the nasal flu spray (again, it's currently only available for kids 5 and over). You may also want to find out if your health insurance covers it.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2007
Source: Robert B. Belshe, MD, Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, Timo Vesikari, MD, Steven V. Black, MD, Robert E. Walker, MD, Micki Hultquist, MS, George Kemble, PhD, Edward M. Connor, MD; New England Journal of Medicine, February 15, 2007.
