OCH Opts To Not Use FluMist This Year

OCH PRESS RELEASE

Get ready to roll up your sleeves for your flu shot this season. OCH Regional Medical Center is one healthcare provider that will not be administering the popular FluMist for those who dread the needle, after a recent report released from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in June that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), or a vaccine more commonly referred to as FluMist, should not be used during the 2016-2017 flu season. This decision from the ACIP is based on data showing poor or relatively lower effectiveness of LAIV from 2013 through 2016.

“We placed an order earlier this year for the nasal spray influenza vaccination; however, after this finding from the CDC, we cancelled our order,” said OCH Infection Control Manager Savannah Brown, RN.

“Our standard of practice follows CDC guidelines, and in order to follow that and provide our patients with the most up-to-date, reliable care, we feel it’s best to exclusively administer the flu vaccine by injection,” continued Brown.

Brown and OCH Infection Preventionist Amy Loggins, RN, recommend getting the flu vaccine as soon as it’s available, which is typically by September.

“While the vaccine is good for up to one year, we did see patients’ immune systems waning this past spring. People who had gotten the flu shot in the fall came down with the flu in March and April,” said Loggins. “Influenza vaccination is only about 60% effective, but it’s the best prevention we have at this time to protect ourselves from the flu,” explained Loggins.

However, patients in some areas may not have an option to get the flu shot early this year. According to the CDC, the ACIP recommendation against the nasal spray may particularly affect pediatricians and other vaccine providers for children since data from recent seasons suggests nasal spray flu vaccine accounts for about one-third of all flu vaccines given to children. CDC said it will be working with manufacturers to ensure there is enough vaccine supply to meet the demand.

Brown and Loggins noted that how well the flu vaccine works can range from season to season and depends on how well the vaccine matches up with the flu strain that’s circulating.

“There are many different flu viruses. The seasonal flu vaccine is formulated to protect against the top three or four that research indicates will cause the most illness during that particular flu season. As we start to see more flu cases, the OCH Infection Control Department will send samples to the state lab to confirm which strains are circulating,” said Brown, who explained a spike in flu cases usually occurs during the holidays and football season when people are getting together and spending more time indoors.

Following the CDC’s guidelines, the OCH Infection Control Department continues to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, as well as taking preventative steps such as staying away from people who are sick and washing your hands often to reduce the spread of germs.