A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee recommended Wednesday that FluMist, the nasal spray influenza vaccine, not be used during the 2017-18 season. Overall, 58.2% of US children between the ages of 6 months and 17 years were vaccinated, compared with 59% the previous year. Last season, though, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided to not recommend the spray because of its poor performance compared with the flu shot. At last year's meeting, MedImmune's Dr. Chris Ambrose shared results from the company's 2015-16 effectiveness study, which found the FluMist quadrivalent vaccine to be 46% effective, compared with the flu shot's 65% effectiveness. She said discussions continue with the FDA, the CDC and the advisory committee with "a goal of a renewed recommendation" for use during the 2017-18 season.

Source: CNN June 21, 2017 20:37 UTC