Caution: Don't use spray vaccines this flu season, says CDC

Approaching this year's flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some words of caution for medical professionals: Don't use nasal spray vaccines.

 

"Only injectable flu shots are recommended for use this season," advises the CDC in updated guidance for the 2016-2017 flu season, citing "concerns about [the] effectiveness" of the nasal spray vaccine, which has been a staple of previous flu seasons.

 

The guidance notes that FluMist Quadrivalent remains an FDA-approved product and that "some supply" may be on the market. Yet "it is important for clinicians and the public to be aware that because of concerns about this vaccine's effectiveness, CDC recommends that this vaccine not be used during the 2016-2017 influenza season."

 

About 90 million doses of injectable flu vaccine have been distributed around the U.S. already, and the CDC encourages consumers to get a vaccine before the flu season kicks into high gear. "Seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May," states the agency.

 

For providers, the CDC has issued usage recommendations for the upcoming flu season. You can also access a list of vaccines currently available for the 2016-2017 season.