Nasal spray flu vaccine aims to get more children protected

The new nasal spray alternative to the flu shot is being rolled out next week after Ontario announced it was introducing it for children.

The spray works by shooting mist carrying the flu vaccine up a child's nose rather than using a sometimes painful and often dreaded needle.

Justeen Mansourian-Christakos,a nurse with the Sudbury and District Health Unit, says the new nasal alternative will be useful for those youngsters who can't stand the sight of a needle.

• New flu shot forchidrenunder 17
• Ontario to offer nasalflu vaccine

"The nasal spray is being offered to children because they typically are the group that are afraid of needles,"Mansourian-Christakossaid.

"It's less invasive. We want to see uptake in all populations increase, but especially in our vulnerable groups, which include children."

The spray vaccine being used protects against four types of influenza, including one that affects children more than adults.

Spray available next Monday

"We want it to go into the nose and into the back of the throat because if you were to have an actual exposure to influenza, that's where the virus is actually carried,"Mansourian-Christakossaid.

"It's through thenasopharyngealpassage."

Sorry, needle-fearing adults the nasal spray flu vaccine is only available for children between the ages of two and 17.

The province-wide roll out of the nasal fluvaccine is set to begin next Monday.