Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Recommendation Change Impacts Minnesota's Flu Season Preparations

Why it matters locally: The CDC advisory committee's recommendation against using the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV) will directly impact Minnesota's upcoming flu season strategy. With a population of over 5.7 million, a significant portion of Minnesotans, especially children who often prefer the nasal spray, typically rely on this vaccination method. Healthcare providers and clinics across the state, including major systems like Allina Health and Mayo Clinic, will need to adjust their purchasing and administration plans, prioritizing the injectable flu vaccine instead. This change could lead to logistical challenges, potential vaccine shortages of the injectable form, and increased hesitancy among some people, thus impacting the overall effectiveness of the state's flu prevention efforts.

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Atlanta, GA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted on Wednesday to recommend that the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), commonly referred to as the nasal spray flu vaccine, not be used during the 2016-2017 influenza season. The decision follows data analysis indicating concerns about the effectiveness of the LAIV. Details surrounding the specific data that prompted the committee's decision were not immediately available in the initial announcement. The ACIP is an advisory group that provides recommendations regarding vaccine use to the CDC. These recommendations are often adopted as public health policy across the United States. Further information outlining the details surrounding the vote and the data leading to the recommendation is expected to be released by the CDC in the near future. The recommendation means that health care providers and public health officials are advised to prioritize the use of other available influenza vaccines, such as the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), commonly given as a flu shot, when vaccinating patients against the flu for the 2016-2017 season.