The nasal influenza vaccine FluMist (MedImmune) is now approved to in clude children between two and five years of age. Approval had previously been limited to healthy children five years of age and olderand to adults up to age 49. The vaccine contains a weakened form of the live virus and is sprayed into the nose.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Afluria, a seasonal influenza vaccine for immunizing people 18 years of age and older against influenza type A and type B flu viruses.
Manufactured by CSL Ltd. of Australia, the vaccine received accelerated approval. In this case, the company demonstrated that the vaccine induced levels of antibodies in the blood likely to be effective in preventing seasonal influenza.
The FDA has approved a vaccine for 2009-2010 seasonal influenza in the U.S. This vaccine does not protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that resulted in the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization on June 11,
2009.
The FDA has approved use of the seasonal influenza vaccine Fluarix (Glaxo-SmithKline) for children 3 to 17 years of age. Previously, this vaccine, which contains inactivated (killed) influenza A and B viruses, had been approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older.