By Kelly Youngblood
Parents who have relied on the FluMist nasal vaccine for their children won’t have that option this year after a recent study found it to be ineffective at preventing influenza.
That’s distressing news for parents with children who are fearful of shots.
It’s also disappointing for pediatricians who are worried parents will forego the flu vaccination this year to avoid giving their child a shot.
“My concern is that many people will develop a fear about the vaccine or concerns about the vaccine and will skip vaccinations all together,” said Dr. Kathleen Buetow, a pediatrician at Carle Clinic.
A study comparing the nasal spray vs. injections over the last two years found that the injection offered 60-70 percent protection against influenza. The nasal vaccine only showed minimal protection in the range of three to five percent.
One reason for the decreased effectiveness of FluMist is due to a shift in the nature of the flu.
“Strains of flu change. The current strain of H1N1 doesn’t respond as well to the FluMist vaccine,” Buetow said.
Another reason is because some have developed a local nasal immunity to FluMist.
“As children got the mist every year, they built up some local immunity in the nostril so (the mist) may not have responded as well the third or fourth or fifth time,” she said.
The decision to discontinue FluMist was initially made at an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP meeting. The decision was supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
While Buetow would prefer to be able to continue using FluMist, she says there’s no point if it’s not effective anymore.
Buetow still hopes parents will get their children vaccinated and says the benefits of the flu shot outweigh the discomfort. She strongly recommends anyone over six months of age get a flu vaccine.
“My big message is (influenza) is still a bad disease and protecting your child is very important,” she said.
“We really do want to urge that everybody get their flu shot. We strongly encourage it ,” Buetow added.
Buetow also hopes people realize the flu vaccine protects against influenza — not the stomach flu. There is no vaccine for the stomach flu.
For a list of 2016 Champaign-Urbana area flu vaccine clinics, click here.