The CDC has published flu vaccine recommendations for the 2015-2016 flu season. This year there are again two very different types of flu vaccines, one with three strains and one with four. Both are acceptable.
Every year the rules change for children under 9 years old, who need 2 doses of the vaccine if they have not been vaccinated in previous years. The trouble is, the definition of being vaccinated before changes each year because the strains change every year, and for a previous vaccine to “count” it has to be similar enough to the current year’s vaccine. It got even more complicated when the swine flu surfaced in 2009 and was added to the vaccine in 2010; children needed 2 doses of H1N1 (“swine flu”) strain vaccine too, as well as the other ones. That year was particularly difficult. We had to have a flow chart to tell if a child needed one or two doses (see below for this year’s chart).
This year, H1N1 is no longer a consideration since it has been in the vaccine for several years. However, due to other strain changes, this year 2 doses are needed for children less than 9 years old unless the child has been previously vaccinated TWICE. It has never been this way before.
Also, as announced previously, the nasal flu vaccine is no longer preferred over the injected vaccine in children since although research studies suggested it was more effective, in real world experience is does not appear to be more effective.
The vaccine continues to be recommended for all people 6 months and older, children and adults.
MMWR August 7, 2015 / 64(30);818-825
Decision Chart for Children Less Than 9 Years Old
