FluMis effective for young kids, but may cause wheezing
May 16, 2007 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of FluMist for children under 5, despite concerns that the nasal spray vaccine caused increased respiratory problems in some patients.
According to the FDA website, the vaccine appears to prevent influenza in children as young as six months. Currently, the nasal spray is only recommended for children and adults age 5 to 49. However, clinical testing results also showed that children on FluMist were more likely to develop wheexing problems when compared to children treated with an injectable vaccine.
Honestly, I don’t know how well received this will be by young children. It’s hard enough to get my daughter to use a saline nasal solution sprayed into her nostrils. I think an injectable vaccine should work just fine. Besides, I recall her pediatrician telling me children ages 6 months to 3 years old have a pediatric-dose vaccine appropriate for their age. I wonder if FluMist formuation is the same.
Tags: FluMist, vaccine, influenza
