H1N1: nasal spray vs. injection

[Perpetual Student]

I just received flu vaccinations. The annual vaccination was injected and the H1N1 vaccination was a nasal spray. Concerning the nasal spray and injectable vaccines for flu, is one of the methods superior to the other? What is the difference, if any? Why are the two types manufactured? Are other methods possible , like oral vaccines?

 

[Capsid]

I just received flu vaccinations. The annual vaccination was injected and the H1N1 vaccination was a nasal spray. Concerning the nasal spray and injectable vaccines for flu, is one of the methods superior to the other? What is the difference, if any? Why are the two types manufactured? Are other methods possible , like oral vaccines?

A nasal spray is preferable if you don't like needles. Immunising mucosally is possibly more relevant for a mucosal pathogen such as flu, although injected flu vaccines appear to work anyway.

The nasal vaccine is a live virus whereas the injected ones are inactivated.

Other oral vaccines (not for flu) are available. Vaccine research is a very active field

 

[phoenixphire24]

At the medical college where I work, we were told that the nasal spray gives you a higher immunity because it's a live virus. Not sure why that is. However because it is a live virus, there are more restrictions on who can receive it (the elderly, pregnant, etc). I had the nasal spray and it was great. I hope we'll get the N1H1 as a nasal spray as well, I hate shots!

 

[shawmutt]

It's a live attenuated virus, to be exact. I prefer it over the shot, but I'm biased--the mist puts food on my table

 

[Perpetual Student]

So, what is the purpose of having two methods?

 

[shawmutt]

FluMist is simply a recent innovation, and is still not licensed for use for the very young and very old, which are two groups that benefit greatly from the vaccine and still need to get a shot. Hopefully some day all vaccines will be via mist, but for now the two methods are used.

 

[Perpetual Student]

FluMist is simply a recent innovation, and is still not licensed for use for the very young and very old, which are two groups that benefit greatly from the vaccine and still need to get a shot. Hopefully some day all vaccines will be via mist, but for now the two methods are used.

Can you define "very old" for this purpose?

 

[shawmutt]

From the website:

FluMist® is a vaccine approved for the prevention of certain types of influenza disease in children, adolescents, and adults 2-49 years of age. (no offense meant to the 50+ folks, I'm sure when I'm that age I won't feel "very old" either )

(cite: http://www.flumist.com/Flumist-Flu-Shot.aspx )

 

[Perpetual Student]

From the website:

FluMist® is a vaccine approved for the prevention of certain types of influenza disease in children, adolescents, and adults 2-49 years of age. (no offense meant to the 50+ folks, I'm sure when I'm that age I won't feel "very old" either )

(cite: http://www.flumist.com/Flumist-Flu-Shot.aspx )

Thanks for the link. It's interesting that the vaccine was not effective for the age group 50-64 tested. Could that be because that group already has immunity to H1N1? Table 5 is not clear on that point. In any case, the results shown in table 5 are not very impressive, showing in only a 10% to 20% reduction in symptoms. Is that the best we can do?

 

[Capsid]

Thanks for the link. It's interesting that the vaccine was not effective for the age group 50-64 tested. Could that be because that group already has immunity to H1N1? Table 5 is not clear on that point. In any case, the results shown in table 5 are not very impressive, showing in only a 10% to 20% reduction in symptoms. Is that the best we can do?

Yes, what the elderly lack in their immune responsiveness they make up for in their experience of exposure to influenza.