Please see Important Saftey Information at the bottom of this page
Information for Healthcare Professionals

Vaccination Guidelines – CDC/ACIP

Please refer to the specific prescribing information for each manufacturer's influenza vaccine as not all influenza vaccines are indicated for each group within the CDC/ACIP recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (CDC/ACIP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have provided the following pediatric influenza vaccination recommendations3, 9:

  • All children 6 months to 18 years, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others
  • Individuals at high risk for influenza-related complications including:
    • Children aged 6 months to 4 years
    • Children and adolescents with certain chronic medical conditions
  • Household contacts (including children) and out-of-home caregivers of children aged <5 years and children at high risk, particularly children aged <6 months

CDC/ACIP Recommendations for Influenza Vaccination

  • The CDC/ACIP recommends that all eligible children 6 months through 18 years of age receive an annual influenza vaccine.
    • Children less than 24 months of age are not eligible for FluMist®.

Important Safety Information

FluMist® is a vaccine indicated for active immunization of individuals 2 - 49 years of age against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine.

FluMist is contraindicated in individuals with history of hypersensitivity to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine or with life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, and in children and adolescents receiving concomitant aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy.

Do not administer FluMist to children <24 months of age due to an increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing that was observed in clinical trials. FluMist should not be administered to any individual with asthma and to children <5 years of age with recurrent wheezing unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. Do not administer FluMist to individuals with severe asthma or active wheezing.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred with prior influenza vaccination or if an individual is immunocompromised, the decision to give FluMist should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. FluMist should not be administered to individuals with underlying medical conditions predisposing them to wild-type influenza infection complications unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. FluMist should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Most common adverse reactions (occurring at ≥10% in individuals receiving FluMist and at least 5% greater than in placebo) are runny nose or nasal congestion in recipients of all ages, fever >100°F in children 2-6 years of age, and sore throat in adults.

FluMist may not protect all individuals receiving the vaccine. FluMist is for intranasal administration only.