CDC panel recommends nasal spray flu vaccines for some children

A panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended healthy children between the ages of 2 and 8 receive nasal spray flu vaccines instead of flu shots.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of experts that advises the CDC, said its recommendation is based on studies that suggest the nasal spray flu shot provides better protection for this age group.

While the panel would prefer children in this age group receive the nasal flu shot, it said the regular flu shot should be administered to these children if the nasal spray version is unavailable.

CDC recommends that everyone six months or older receive annual flu shots.

If CDC adopts the panel’s recommendation, it would be incorporated into its 2014-2015 flu prevention and control recommendations.