Most kids hate getting shots. And most parents hate taking their kids to the pediatrician to get a shot. That’s why, during flu season, the nasal spray version of the vaccine has been a popular choice for parents and pediatricians who don’t want to inflict the stress of a shot on kids. But this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are recommending against the use of the nasal spray.
Dr. Anne Beckett from Brigham and Women’s Family Care Associates at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital explains, “The nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended this season because of concerns that it did not work as well as the injectable vaccination last year. The CDC found that last season the nasal spray vaccine effectiveness among children aged 2 through 17 was only 3 percent.”
Experts do not know why the nasal spray flu vaccine was ineffective last year. However, they do know that the flu shot was effective. “The CDC found that last season, flu shots reduced a child’s risk of ending up at the doctor’s office sick with the flu by more than 60 percent,” says Dr. Beckett. “The flu shot is not perfect. Some children who are vaccinated may still get sick. However, studies show that if they do, the flu shot may make their illness milder.”
Influenza is more serious than the common cold, and can lead to hospitalization and even death. Children are more likely to catch the flu than adults, and children younger than 5, as well as those with health conditions like asthma and diabetes, are at highest risk of serious illness when they get the flu. That’s why Dr. Beckett recommends everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu shot. “Vaccinating your child against the flu not only protects the child vaccinated but also people around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu, like elderly grandparents, babies and those with chronic health problems,” she says.
While having to get a shot may be bad news for kids, it’s the best defense against flu. “We want to provide our pediatric patients the best possible protection against the flu, and recent studies show that the flu shot provides the highest level of protection,” says Dr. Beckett.
Has your child had their 2016–2017 flu shot? To schedule an appointment with Dr. Beckett or another pediatrician at Brigham and Women’s Family Care Associates at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, call 617-983- 7025. Appointments are available in English and Spanish.
