Nasal spray flu vaccine approved in Canada
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 | 8:13 PM ET
CBC News
Related
A nasal spray version of the flu vaccine has been approved for use in Canada, the vaccine maker says.
AstraZeneca Canada announced Wednesday that its FluMist vaccine has received Health Canada's approval.
The mist is sprayed into a nostril, with no need for needles.
FluMist is administered annually, and is approved for the prevention of seasonal influenza in Canadians two to 59 years of age, the company said.
The nasal spray should not be used by people at high risk for complications from flu such as those with underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease, pregnant women, and those with a severe allergy to chicken eggs or components of the vaccine.
"My overall impression is it's a helpful tool," said Dr. Michael Gardam of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion in Toronto. "It has some advantages over the regular injectable flu vaccine but it also has some disadvantages."
Advantages include its needle-free approach and effectiveness in children. But the nasal spray vaccine might lead to mild flu symptoms, like a runny nose or fever in children or sore throats in adults, that don't really occur with the injectable flu shots, Gardam said.
It is too soon to make recommendations about the product, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.
"The National Advisory Committee on Immunization must first review the science, including the evidence on its safety and effectiveness, as well as its usefulness for those people most at risk of catching the flu," the agency said in an email.
Once the committee's review is complete, it will issue recommendations to provinces and territories to consider when deciding whether to provide the vaccine.
Provinces and territories have already purchased seasonal flu vaccine for the upcoming flu season.
The spray has been used in the U.S. since 2003.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Air Canada confident it can reach deal with pilots
- Travellers flying Air Canada can keep booking their flights as negotiations continue with a new federally appointed mediator to help resolve an ongoing contract dispute between the airline and its pilots. more »
- Legalize pot, say former B.C. attorneys general
- Four former B.C. attorneys general are joining a coalition of health and justice experts calling for the legalization of marijuana. more »
- Whitney Houston's funeral to be held Saturday
- Pop star Whitney Houston's funeral service will be held Saturday in the New Jersey church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child. more »
- Online surveillance bill targets child porn: Toews
- A bill that would give police and intelligence agencies new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications is needed to protect against child pornography, says Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. more »
Latest Health News Headlines
- Diners keen on smaller side-order portions
- Researchers infiltrated a fast-food Chinese restaurant and found up to a third of diners jumped at the offer of a half-size of the usual heaping pile of rice or noodles, even when the smaller amount cost the same. more »
- Radiation after lung cancer doubted for some
- Older people with lung cancer shouldn't routinely receive radiation because it doesn't help them live longer, a new U.S. study finds. more »
- Legalize pot, say former B.C. attorneys general
- Four former B.C. attorneys general are joining a coalition of health and justice experts calling for the legalization of marijuana. more »
- Former Capital Health worker sorry for privacy breach
- A former employee of Nova Scotia's largest health board is apologizing for breaching the privacy of 120 patients by viewing confidential health records over a six-year period. more »
FEATURED HEALTH
- Online surveillance critics accused of supporting child porn
- Whitney Houston's funeral to be held Saturday
- HMCS Corner Brook collision damage extensive
- Online surveillance bill targets child porn: Toews
- Legalize pot, say former B.C. attorneys general
- Mooning Queen proves costly for Australian man
- MacKay says submarine fleet has 'spotty' history
- Man kidnapped at Greyhound station escapes captors
- Stanley Cup rioter seen in brick attack on cop
