Pressroom

Source: Medscape

By: Smith, Michael

06/26/2014

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted in favor of using FluMist, the inhaled live attenuated flu vaccine, for healthy children ages two through eight years. For its decision, ACIP looked a study which indicated that the nasal spray vaccine offers better protection than injected flu vaccine against laboratory-confirmed, medically attended influenza. However, the committee also noted that children should be given the flu shot if the nasal vaccine is not available, so they do not miss out on vaccination. Before it becomes official policy, the recommendation must still be approved the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incorporated into the flu prevention and control recommendations, and published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.