One thing that seems to remain consistent year after year is that children hate shots.
Until this year, children could get away with using the nasal spray vaccine, which holds the brand name FluMist, while still following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now, the CDC is withdrawing its recommendation of FluMist, noting that it has demonstrated low efficacy against the influenza A virus in the past few years.
“All currently recommended flu vaccines are in the form of injections,” the CDC said of its new guidelines, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
For the first time in 13 years, everyone is supposed to get the flu shot.
The CDC explains of the vaccine, “How well the flu vaccine works (or its ability to prevent flu illness) can range widely from season to season and can be affected by a number of factors, including characteristics of the person being vaccinated, the similarity between vaccine viruses and circulating viruses, and even which vaccine is used. LAIV [live attenuated influenza vaccine — nasal spray] contains live, weakened influenza viruses.
"Vaccines containing live viruses can cause a stronger immune response than vaccines with inactivated virus. LAIV VE data before and soon after licensure suggested it was either comparable to, or better than, IIV. The reason for the recent poor performance of LAIV is not known."
FluMist is currently the only non-injection-based flu vaccine available on the market. It’s sure to make an impact on families, as recent data suggests nasal spray flu vaccine accounts for about one-third of all flu vaccines given to children, according to the CDC.
