No More Nasal Flu Shots, State Health Department Says

Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, wants people to know health experts no longer recommend the nasal spray flu vaccines, which used to be considered an option for people age 2 to 49.

The Centers for Disease Control still advises flu shots for everyone six months and older.

According to Dr. Chan, the sprays did not seem to prevent the flu, and evidence has been mounting against them over the past two to three years.

"It was not too effective," he said.

In response to the evidence, the CDC changed its official policy in June.

Although numerous pharmacies and supermarkets are already offering flu shots, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice has yet to release its recommendations for this year's vaccine, However, according to Dr. Chan, the CDC normally waits until the end of the summer to do so.

They use the time to "tweak" the recommendations, he said, but practically speaking, "the general recommendations don't change significantly from year to year."

Since the drug manufacturers go by the World Health Organization's recommendations, which were released last February, for most people, it's okay to be vaccinated now, he said.

Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated against the flu by October, he said, given the fact doctors never know for sure when a flu outbreak will occur.