Flu Vaccine Nasal Spray Returns This Fall
For the past few years, the flu vaccine has required an injection – much to the dismay of my children and my husband, who has a phobia of needles. But the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this week endorsed a recommendation that the nasal spray version should be popular again.
The FluMist spray disappeared from the market after it was discovered that it did not provide the same protection as an injection. But the manufacturers of FluMist say they ‘ve fixed the problem , and the CDC agrees that fog should be an option, especially for people who hate needles so much that they skip a flu shot if a spray isn’t available.
Injectable versions of the vaccine are still preferred, especially for children , so they are best used. But it’s good to know that spray is again an option, especially if it means more people will get vaccinated.
If you’re still not ready to get vaccinated, we now know that people who got vaccinated last year were 40 percent less likely to see their doctor with flu-like symptoms. The exact effectiveness depends on which strain of influenza you caught – but in all cases, it was much better than the 10 percent forecast you may have heard last fall. Flu shots become available every fall, usually around September.