Whats the difference between the flu vaccine shot and the nasal spray?
The flu vaccine comes in two forms: an injection in the arm and a nasal spray. While the shot contains influenza viruses that have been killed off, the nasal spray vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) has live viruses that have been weakened. The flu shot has been approved for people older than 6 months, and is OK for people who are healthy—including women who are pregnant—as well as those who have chronic health conditions. The nasal spray has been approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49. It is not approved for pregnant women, children younger than 2 or those younger than 5 who have breathing problems, men and women older than 50, or people who have asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, or allergies to eggs.
