JCVI says YES to LAIV for preventing flu in children

In August 2016, JCVI was asked to review updated data from the 2015/16 season in the UK and other countries, in light of emerging evidence of low effectiveness of the nasal spray vaccine, lower than inactivated vaccine, reported in the United States (US). After reviewing evidence from across the UK, Finland, Canada and the United States following the 2015/16 influenza season, much of which demonstrates good overall effectiveness, JCVI continues to recommend using the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, the nasal spray vaccine) for preventing flu in children and strongly supports the continuation of the UK childhood influenza immunisation programme.