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Nasal spray vaccine approved for the prevention of seasonal flu in children

FLUENZ, a nasally administered influenza vaccine, is now licensed by the European Commission for prevention of seasonal flu for children 24 months to less than 18 years of age. 

Fluenz is formulated to contain three live attenuated influenza virus strains which are weakened so as not to cause illness. The vaccine is administered by spraying into the nose where it induces protective immunity.

Fluenz is marketed in USA under the trade name FluMist and has been approved since 2003. It is expected that the vaccine will be available in select European markets for the 2012-2013 influenza season. The introduction of nasally administered influenza vaccine  for children will be a welcome development for parents as it offers an alternative to injection.

About Influenza: seasonal flu is the most common vaccine preventable disease in the developed world. Every year, seasonal flu accounts for three to five million cases of severe illness worldwide and rates of infection are highest in the extremes of life, that is young children and the elderly. Seven EU countries (Finland, Austria, Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia and the state of Saxony in Germany) recommend routinely vaccinating young children against seasonal flu although age limits differ. 

Bloom Healthcare hopes to offer this vaccination when it becomes available for the 2012-2013 flu season.

Prevention of shingles

Shingles (also called herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus within nerve roots. It is usually recognised by its distinctive painful, tiny crop of blisters which are usually located on one side of the body.

Increasing age is the main risk for shinglesand the condition is common between 50 and 79 years of age. Other risk factors include immune deficiency, cancers, organ transplantation and use of medications which suppress immunity.

In most cases, the skin lesions will heal over 2-4 weeks and there will no significant consequences. However, complications may occur. The commonest complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that may last 30 days to 6 months after the lesions have healed. Another complication is ophthalmic zoster which may lead to permanent loss of vision. In cases of severe immune suppression meningitis, encephalitis or spread of disease all over the body may occur.

Shingles and postherpetic neuralgia are preventable conditions. A single dose of varicella-zoster vaccine is recommended for persons 50 years or older. Patients can be immunised without prior blood testing and regardless of any history of varicella virus infection or herpes zoster.

Fewer than 10% of eligible persons receive the vaccine and surveys show that many do not know about the vaccine or believe it  is not needed. We offer this vaccination in our clinic.

If you wish to discuss more about shingles vaccination or simply worried about your risks, call us on 01908 693400.