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Nasal influenza vaccination
- Question
- Hello,
I would like to have the influenza vaccination done to my 10-year-old son with CF, like every year. The nasal vaccination has been recommended to me by a pediatric pulmonologist, due to a better efficacy. As my son does not like syringes at all, I would like to know, if the nasal vaccination is also recommended from the CF side, respecitvely what could speak against it.
Many thanks!
D. - Answer
- Hello,
you ask, if the nasal vaccination aganist influenza can be recommended to patients with CF. As your 10-year-old boy is afraid of the injection and your treating physician said that the efficacy of the nasal vaccine would be better, you would prefer this. You ask, if there are any contraindications.
The influenza vaccination is recommended in Germany from the authorities for certain groups of patients. Here is mentioned i.a. the group of chronic lung disease patients (asthma and e.g. COPD). Of course CF counts under this group, even if it is not mentioned directly. The vaccine is licensed for children between 2 and 17 years of age.
In a detailed judgement of the study data on the nasal vaccine the Robert-Koch institute states, that the data proves that the nasal vaccine is in the age group of 2-6 years superior to the injectable vaccine. In the age group of 7-17 years no significant differencescould be be found concerning the efficacy. In the relative rare comparative studies no significant differences concerning the severe side effects could be found.
As a typical reaction to the vaccination intermittend tiredness, general signs of a cold like running nose, congestive nose, headache and sometimes increased temperature have been seen in both forms of vaccination, whereas the reactions of the nose have been a bit more frequent when using the nasal vaccine.
In summary, it can be said for the situation of your son, that for both types of vaccination a similiar efficacy can be expected. You should read in detail the drug leaflet. It is important, that the vaccination is done in an absolute stable, infection-free situation of your son.
We wish you and your son all the best,
Best regards,
Dr. H.-G. Posselt - 05.12.2016
