Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

Each year, many children get sick with the flu; some are hospitalized and some die. Young children are the most likely to get sick with the flu. Children younger than 5 years are at high risk of getting serious flu complications. Vaccinating your child is the best way to protect them.

This summer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new data from a study comparing flu shots and nasal sprays. Their research found that the nasal spray prevented 50 percent more flu cases than the flu shot in children 2 to 8, and the CDC now recommends that healthy children in this age group be vaccinated with the nasal spray when it’s available.

All nasal-spray vaccines are quadrivalent, which means they protect against four strains of flu virus: two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) and two influenza B strains.

What’s the difference?

Both the flu shot and nasal spray work protect against the flu (neither is 100 percent effective), but they work differently. The shot contains an inactivated influenza virus designed to help the body’s immune system guard against the actual disease.

The nasal spray, sold under the U.S. brand name FluMist, contains weakened versions of the live virus.

The flu shot is approved for people over the age of six months. FluMist is approved for anyone between ages 2 to 49.

Shots are more available than the spray currently.

Flu Shot Vs. FluMist: Which Is Better For Your Child?  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

1 2Next page »