ACIP Reinstates FluMist for 2018-2019 Flu Season Committee persuaded by new efficacy analyses

After a 2-year absence, FluMist is back on the 2018-2019 influenza vaccine schedule, following a vote from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) here. The panel also gave a unanimous endorsement to the Heplisav-B vaccine against hepatitis B virus. ACIP members voted 12-2 to include the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) as "an option for influenza vaccination for persons for whom it is appropriate" in the 2018-2019 influenza season. An additional motion to give a preferential recommendation to the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) over LAIV was voted down 3-11. The vaccine was also added back to the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in a 14-0 vote. What changed their minds? CDC research from prior studies of live attenuated influenza vaccine showed that effectiveness of LAIV was 45% against influenza A and B, with 25% protection against influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 compared with unvaccinated children. CDC researchers also found that while inactivated influenza vaccine was "better" in all age groups against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, compared with LAIV, there was no statistically significant difference in protection between the two vaccines for influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses. https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/acip/71298?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2018-02-22&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%202018-02-22&utm_term=Daily%20Headlines%20-%20Active%20User%20-%20180%20days