The updated guidance states the vaccine should not be used in any setting, based on CDC vaccine effectiveness data from the last three influenza seasons in the USA, which indicated FluMist Quadrivalent did not demonstrate statistically significant effectiveness in children 2-17 years of age.
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The vaccine, FluMist, has not worked in the past three years, the panel was told by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Academy leaders say they support the interim recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
An interim recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated the vaccine did not show any statistically significantly effectiveness in children past year and should not be used in the 2016-2017 immunisation season.
FluMist uses live but weakened strains of the flu virus to stimulate immune systems, and is sprayed up the nose.
Experts were particularly anxious that FluMist hasn’t protected against H1N1, a type of flu that often causes more deaths and hospitalizations among children and young adults.
It’s not clear why the vaccine isn’t working. “We do understand this change will be hard for pediatric practices who were planning to give the intranasal spray to their patients, and to patients who prefer that route of administration”, said AAP CEO/Executive Director Karen Remley, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., FAAP.
Bresee said some suspect that it is has to do with the decision a few years ago to incorporate four strains of flu in FluMist instead of the traditional three.
An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company is evaluating the committee’s recommendation.
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The vaccine’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, presented its own study that found the FluMist vaccine was somewhat effective, but still not did not work as well as flu shots.
