Medscape: Flu Vaccine Options—Nasal vs Injection
Medscape recently interviewed Derek Corpus, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, about the availability and effectiveness of nasal flu vaccines compared with the standard injection.
The nasal spray vaccine offers a practical alternative for young patients who fear needles.
“That’s probably the biggest benefit of utilizing intranasal,” Corpus told Medscape. “It’s not a poke. And there are also probably adults who would much prefer not to have a needle that can cause some pain.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only recommends the nasal vaccine for healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49. The federal agency warns against using the spray for individuals who are pregnant, those caring for the immunocompromised or those with chronic conditions like lung disease and diabetes.
Although the CDC advises caution when giving the nasal vaccine to young patients with asthma, due to a slightly increased risk of hospitalization, Corpus has seen good results with this group in his practice.
“For kids ages 2 years and up, the asthma safety profile is actually pretty great,” he told Medscape. “It’s well-tolerated, even in kids with a wheeze.”
For children and adults alike, Corpus agrees that the nasal vaccine helps get more people vaccinated each year to protect against a severe illness.
“The hope overall is that when people are deterred for any reason about receiving the syringe, whether it be an adult or a child, you can administer this as a less-burdensome option,” he said. “Getting over that barrier is a huge win.”
Read the complete article from Medscape.