When it comes to the prevention of influenza viruses causing widespread flu, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention nose best. Excuse me, know best and what they know this year is that nasal spray vaccinations aren’t cutting it.
In a media statement June 22, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended the use of the traditional shot over the nasal spray vaccine based on research noting exceptionally low effectiveness in past years (from 2013-2016). While the FluMist vaccination (LAIV) is often preferred for kids and needle-haters alike, the CDC stated that last flu season FluMist was only three percent effective compared to the 63 percent effectiveness of the traditional shot (IIV).
Additionally, outside and past research was cited as supporting their findings.
“Other (non-CDC) studies support the conclusion that LAIV worked less well than IIV this season. The data from 2015-2016 follows two previous seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) showing poor and/or lower than expected vaccine effectiveness (VE) for LAIV.”
It’s important to remember, with health science, the field and technologies are constantly changing. While we might have enjoyed the nasal spray, the practice of science is to test and observe and follow the data’s guidance. If the data says that method isn’t effective, more development and experimentation will have to follow. Just because it works once, doesn’t mean we get it forever (sadly).
However, just because it might be extra unpleasant, the flu vaccine still isn’t to be skipped which the CDC stressed in their announcement:
“Influenza is a serious disease that causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and thousands or tens of thousands of deaths each year.”
Influenza, or “the flu,” is a respiratory illness caused by viruses- of which there are multiple strains- that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The virus then spreads through contagions spread via coughing, sneezing, or talking (most commonly) or through contaminated surfaces transferring the virus to eyes, mouth, or nose.
Once infected, symptoms begin within one to four days. Symptoms can include fever, coughing, a sore throat, nose stuffiness or mucus, aches in body and head, and fatigue but as it grows more severe, the flu can cause complications from the attack on the respiratory tracts in lungs, nose, and throat. These complications can be sinus/ear infections, pneumonia, inflammatory responses across the body, or worsen chronic illnesses already present. While it’s common to hear about the flu, it’s dangerous to forget how dangerous it can be. While many do experience mild flus and do not suffer major repercussions, the risk of more severe damage or death is real which is why the vaccine is so essential.
Besides avoiding your own suffering, vaccines protect more than just the person who receives the dosage; but also those who cannot vaccinate like the elderly, babies, and people with certain illnesses that compromise their immune systems (such as cancer). Skipping the shot puts those people at risk of catching something they can’t prepare themselves for.
While the official report came out this summer, it’s important to remember as fall encompasses us with a reminder that it’s time to get vaccinated that this year there’s no avoiding it, you’re going to have to give the shot a shot.
