Nasal Flu Vaccine Approved for Young Children

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration news release, the vaccine for influenza, FluMist, will now be available to children between the ages of 2 to 5 years old.

The vaccine which contains a weakened form of the live virus and is only sprayed through the nose was used and limited to only healthy children five and older and for adults up to the age of 49. Until FluMist was approved there had only been two other vaccinations for children under the age of five that was licensed in the United States. Fluzone for anyone over the age of six months, and Fluvirin which is available for children four years-old and older.

While being observed, children had slight adverse affects that were generally mild and included affects such as runny noses, nasal congestion, and a slight fever. FluMist should not be used by anyone that has asthma or children who are under the age of five who constantly wheeze. Those also allergic to eggs or egg products should not use the FluMist vaccine.

It is recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that children between the ages of six months to five years old receive the vaccination that will protect them against the influenza virus. Many studies have shown that children under the age of five who contract the influenza virus are more prone to be hospitalized that those who are older.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that 6,400 infants under the age of five had received FluMist in three separate studies
that compared those who had the vaccine to those who had not had any vaccine demonstrated that the effectiveness in preventing influenza was greater than not. The study showed that 53 cases of influenza among 3,900 children who received the vaccine to 93 cases that received an inactive influenza vaccination.