We are concerned about whether to use LAIV or TIV for our healthcare personnel (HCP) who work with immunocompromised patients. Is there a difference in the efficacy of LAIV as compared to TIV?
The issue of efficacy is a complicated one. There are studies that show variable efficacy between TIV and LAIV in young children. However, with respect to influenza vaccines, ACIP has not stated a preference for one formulation over another based on efficacy. In 2006, a joint recommendation from ACIP and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommended that TIV be used for vaccinating household members, HCP, and others who have close contact with severely immunosuppressed persons (e.g., patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplants) during those periods in which the immunosuppressed person requires care in a protective environment (typically defined as a specialized patient-care area with a positive airflow relative to the corridor, high-efficiency particulate air filtration, and frequent air changes). No transmission of LAIV in health-care settings ever has been reported, and because these viruses are also cold-adapted (and cannot effectively repli
