FDA Approves Nasal Flu Vaccine for Use with Children Ages 2 - 5

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FluMist for use with children between the ages of 2 and 5. A September 19, 2007 press release by the FDA, explains that FluMist, which is an influenza vaccine sprayed into the nose, was previously limited to healthy children 5 years or older and adults up to age 49.

FluMist should NOT be used for children under the age of 2 because there was an increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing in this group during clinical trials. However, Fluzone is approved for children over 6 months of age and Fluvirin is available for use with children 4 years or older.

FluMist should NOT be administered to anyone with asthma or to people allergic to its' ingredients, including eggs or egg products. FluMist is manufactured by Medimmune Vaccines, Inc., in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

"Stomach Flu" is Usually a Myth

Influenza is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease. Sometimes, mainly in children, feeling sick to your stomach, vomiting or having diarrhea can be related to the flu, but it is rarely the main symptom of flu. In most cases, a different virus, bacteria or parasite causes these symptoms.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says:

* NEVER give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu; this can be associated with Reye Syndrome.

* as of August 6, 2007, 68 deaths in children during the 2006-2007 flu season were reported to the CDC.

* from October to May, influenza viruses were reported in all 50 states and it was widespread in 41 states.

* each year in the U.S. millions of people get the flu; an average of 36,000 die from flu each year; more than 200,000 are hospitalized with flu.

* children younger than 6 months are at high risk for flu complications but are too young to be vaccinated; the best prevention is to vaccinate household members and care givers.

* October or November is the best time to get vaccinated.

Sneezing, coughing, or touching spreads flu from person to person. The flu virus can spread one day before symptoms occur and up to five days after symptoms occur. Children can infect others for longer than seven days. Flu symptoms are: