The flu epidemic is global and kills hundreds of thousands every year. Patients with pathologies of the cardiovascular, respiratory system and other concomitant diseases are at increased risk of serious infection. However, no more than 50-65% of people living in the United States who need a vaccination are exposed to it - partly because of the fear of injections. Using the newly developed FluMist intranasal flu vaccine can increase your immunization coverage.

FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal) is a live trivalent attenuated vaccine containing 2 strains of influenza virus type A and 1 - type B, whose probability of circulation during the corresponding winter period (2003-2004) is the most high. The antigenic structure of the vaccine is updated annually.

The effectiveness of FluMist vaccination has been studied in 20,228 people (including more than 10,000 children) aged 5 to 49 years compared to placebo. The vaccine was administered by an inhaler with a dispenser containing a dose of the drug - 0.5 ml. Children aged 5 to 8 years received a double vaccination with an interval of 60 days, the other study participants were vaccinated once.

In children, the prophylaxis of influenza caused by the types of viruses in the vaccine was 87.4% (95% confidence interval - CI 59.4-97.9%) in the first year and 86.9% (95% CI), 70.8-94.1%) with subsequent revaccination after one year. In adults, there was a decrease in the incidence of severe infections, accompanied by an increase in temperature, by 19.5% and upper respiratory tract infections, accompanied by an increase in temperature, 23.7% compared to the control group.

No serious adverse events were noted with the introduction of the vaccine in patients aged 5 to 49 years. Since the use of the vaccine in children under 5 years of age can cause asthma attacks, the vaccine is not recommended for the prevention of influenza in this population. The safety and efficacy of the vaccine have not been studied in people over 49 years of age.

For example, FluMist has been shown to be effective and safe in preventing flu in people aged 5 to 49, but there are a number of limitations to the widespread use of the vaccine. Its administration is contraindicated in children or adolescents receiving aspirin, patients with immunodeficiency disorders, cancer, people allergic to chicken eggs, as well as suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome and bronchial asthma.

The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2003 for use in the United States.