ACIP: Do Not Use Nasal Spray Vaccine for Upcoming Flu Season

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted against using the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), or “nasal spray” vaccine for the 2016-2017 flu season.

CDC continues to recommend that everyone aged 6 months and older be annually vaccinated with either the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The decision comes in response to preliminary data showing that during the 2015-2016 season, effectiveness of the LAIV was only 3% among children aged 2 to 17 years, whereas the IIV had a 63% effectiveness rate.

When the LAIV was initially licensed in 2003, effectiveness data suggested it was comparable to or better than the IIV. Typically, live-virus vaccines such as the LAIV induce a stronger immune response than inactivated-virus vaccines such as the IIV, making them more effective. Researchers are unsure of why the vaccine’s recent performance has been so poor.

“The ACIP recommendation may particularly affect pediatricians and other vaccine providers for children since data from recent seasons suggests nasal spray flu vaccine accounts for about one-third of all flu vaccines given to children.  CDC will be working with manufacturers throughout the summer to ensure there is enough vaccine supply to meet the demand.”

The ACIP’s vote now must be approved by CDC’s director before it becomes CDC policy.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

ACIP votes down use of LAIV for 2016-2017 flu season [news release]. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; June 22, 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0622-laiv-flu.html. Accessed June 23, 2016.