Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Now Approved for Kids as Young as Two Years of Age

Thursday, September 27, 2007

 
FluMist, the nasal spray form of the flu vaccine, has been used as an alternative to getting an injected flu shot for many years for ages 5 years through 50 years. This week, FluMist was just approved for use down to age 2 years.

Does the nasal spray have any advantages over the shot, besides being pain-free? It has been shown to be more than 50% effective than the flu shot. However, the nasal spray also has a slightly higher rate of flu-like side effects.

A major advantage of the nasal spray is that it is mercury free. Many brands of the flu shot still contain mercury. The single-dose vials of the Fluzone brand of the flu shot are the only flu shots that are completely mercury free.