FluMist Vaccine Approved for Children Ages 2 and Up
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A panel that advises government health officials said Wednesday the flu vaccine nasal spray is safe for children as young as 2.
That's a change from current government advice, which recommends the FluMist spray only for healthy people ages 5 to 49. Traditional shots have been recommended for children younger than 5.
But recent studies have shown FluMist, made by Maryland-based MedImmune, to be safe and effective in kids as young as 2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month approved its use for that age group.
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On Wednesday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises government health officials, recommended FluMist's use for younger children who are healthy. Committee members said children with a history of asthma or wheezing should opt for a shot.
Recommendations by the panel usually are accepted by U.S. health officials, and they influence insurance companies' decisions on vaccination coverage. The committee also voted that a government program that pays for vaccines extend its FluMist coverage to the younger age group, meaning millions of added children will now be eligible for FluMist doses.
— Associated Press