CDC Recommends Giving Up Nasal Flu Vaccine in Favor of Shots

The nasal spray flu vaccine sold as FluMist Quadravalent shouldn’t be used in any setting during the 2016-2017 flu season, according to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In a statement, it said the other research findings showed FluMist to be 46 to 58 percent effective overall against the circulating flu strains a year ago. For comparison, the ACIP said the injection vaccine protected 63 percent of those two to 17 from the flu.

Health officials reported Wednesday that the spray performed dismally for the third straight year, while the traditional flu shot – the one that stings – worked reasonably well this winter.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca confirmed disappointing news to investors on Thursday, with updated guidance from U.S. regulators recommending against its FluMist Quadrivalent influenza vaccine.

The decision could nerve pediatricians short of vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The decline in Flumist’s efficacy in the United States is puzzling, especially since CDC experts had recommended it preferentially in 2014 over injectable flu vaccines in children, citing its superior efficacy. The nasal spray contains live, weakened flu viruses, which, in theory, can produce a stronger immune response than the killed flu viruses that are in the flu shot, the CDC said. It’s possible that the nasal spray isn’t very effective at protecting against the H1N1 strain, Adalja said.

A significant number of hospitals, clinics and doctors make their flu vaccine orders early in the year.

A spokesman for AstraZeneca said the CDC’s recommendation affected the USA market only and was based on specific data. There are two versions of FluMist: one a trivalent vaccine, which protects against three strains of flu virus, and the other a quadrivalent, protecting against four strains. The change in the ACIP recommendation is an example of using new available data to ensure public health actions are most beneficial.

The CDC recommends flu vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older.

Is trying to expand beyond a shot for the flu vaccine is a good idea?

It’s not clear why the vaccine isn’t working. “These findings demonstrate FluMist Quadrivalent was 46 percent to 58 precent effective overall against the circulating influenza strains during the 2015-2016 season”. FluMist Quadrivalent had brought in sales of $290 million previous year, including sales of $206 million in the U.S.

Medimmune, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca and FluMist’s manufacturer, had produced about 14 million doses for the upcoming flu season.