This fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is likely to recommend that children receive live attenuated vaccine nasal spray rather than the traditional flu shot. The nasal spray, marketed as FluMist, will likely become first-line for healthy children ages 2-8. The move is anticipated after the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to recommend FluMist for children after reviewing evidence that the nasal spray vaccine is more effective than injectable flu vaccine in preventing flu. Some critics suggest that the recommendation is coming too late in the year to have an impact this year, since many practices have already ordered their flu vaccine. Others are concerned about the significantly increased cost of FluMist vs traditional vaccine. Although the CDC has yet to act officially on the Advisory Committee’s findings, it usually endorses the committee’s recommendations.
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