An advisory committee of the CDC (the United States Center for Disease Control), which issues vaccine recommendations each year for the civilian population of the United States, has just announced that it had voted against the use of the influenza vaccine under nasal spray form.
Based on data for the 2015-2016 season, the researchers found that the spray offered only 3% protection against the flu in children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 17. By comparison, the standard influenza vaccine was 63% effective in young people of the same age group.
8% of influenza vaccines are administered as a spray
In the United States, the flu vaccine is recommended for the entire population from the age of 6 months. Nasal spray accounts for one-third of influenza vaccines administered to children and 8% of the total volume of influenza vaccines administered in the United States.
In France, the influenza vaccine is recommended for people 65 years and over and for people who suffer from a long-lasting ailment. The nasal vaccine (marketed as Fluenz) has received marketing authorization for the prevention of influenza in children and adolescents with underlying illnesses leading to serious complications from influenza.
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