MedImmune expects to provide approximately 15 –16 million doses of its trivalent (three-strain) nasal spray flu vaccine for the 2011-2012 influenza season through a variety of private health care practices, public health departments, school-located vaccination programs, military bases, and other venues. Healthcare professionals should refer to FluMist prescribing information for appropriate administration.

FluMist is indicated for eligible individuals 2-49 years of age. The most common side effects of FluMist are runny or stuffy nose; sore throat and fever over 100°F.

This year, flu vaccines contain the three strains recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and World Health Organization (WHO), including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain.

The CDC recommends that flu vaccine be administered to eligible recipients aged six months and older every year as soon as the vaccine becomes available. A MedImmune analysis looking at pediatric populations suggests that starting influenza vaccinations as soon as product is available (July – September) — months earlier than the typical influenza vaccination season — may help reach an additional 10.5 million children at already-scheduled healthcare provider visits.

“MedImmune is committed to supporting public health efforts to initiate seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible each year, greatly widening the window of opportunity for vaccination,” said Steve Projan, Ph.D, MedImmune’s Senior Vice President, Research & Development. “The data show that vaccination with FluMist in the late summer helps protect against influenza throughout the influenza season, even into the late spring.”

FluMist is available in every state, except South Dakota, through the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children. FluMist is also available on the Vaccine for Adults contract allowing state and local immunization programs to access the vaccine at the public-sector price for community vaccination programs focused on young adults and immunization of first-responders and healthcare workers.

Based on a nationally-representative sample of private insurance claims from approximately 50 percent of US patients, FluMist accounted for 34 percent of seasonal influenza vaccinations given to children two through 18 years of age during the 2009-2010 season. FluMist is covered by approximately 99 percent of private health plans which offer immunization benefits.

Important Safety and Eligibility Information for FluMist

What is FluMist^® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal)?

FluMist is the first and only nasal spray flu vaccine approved in the United States to help prevent influenza and is indicated for the active immunization of eligible individuals 2 to 49 years of age against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B contained in the vaccine.  

Who may not be able to get FluMist?

You should not get FluMist if you: are allergic to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin, or arginine; have ever had a life-threatening reaction to influenza vaccinations; or are 2 through 17 years old and take aspirin or medicines containing aspirin–children or adolescents should not be given aspirin for 4 weeks after getting FluMist unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Children under 2 years old should not get FluMist because there is a chance they may wheeze (have difficulty with breathing) after getting FluMist.

Tell your healthcare provider if you: are currently wheezing; have a history of wheezing if under 5 years old; have had Guillain-Barré syndrome; have a weakened immune system or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system; have problems with your heart, kidneys, or lungs; have diabetes; are pregnant or nursing; or are taking Tamiflu®, Relenza®, amantadine, or rimantadine.

They will decide if FluMist is right for you.

What are the most common side effects of FluMist?

The most common side effects of FluMist are runny or stuffy nose; sore throat; and fever over 100 degrees F.

Please see accompanying complete product information, including patient information at www.medimmune.com.

For more information, please visit www.FluMist.com.

About MedImmune

MedImmune, the worldwide biologics unit for AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN), has approximately 3,500 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. With an advancing pipeline of promising drug candidates, MedImmune strives to deliver life-changing products, a rewarding career to our employees and a tireless commitment to improving patient health. For more information, visit MedImmune’s website at www.medimmune.com.

Background

Children have the highest rates of influenza infection and school-aged children are the major vectors for influenza transmission that spread the virus to adults and the elderly in the community, causing substantial socioeconomic impact.1 For these reasons, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccination for all eligible persons in the U.S., including eligible children aged 6 months through 18 years of age.2 Despite this, vaccination rates for school-aged children 5 to 17 years of age remain low, ranging from 24.6% (healthy) to 34.7% (high-risk) in the 2008-09 influenza season.2

To increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates, stakeholders have explored new immunization strategies including the routine vaccination of school-aged children.3 Previous research has demonstrated that increased vaccination of children could modulate the spread of influenza in the community. Mass vaccination programs in schools have demonstrated both direct benefits to immunized children and indirect benefits to the community including reduced school absenteeism due to influenza.4,5,6

An example of the benefits of influenza vaccination in school settings is:

• The Knox County (Tennessee) Health Department demonstrated program feasibility in a large public school system by vaccinating 24,198 students (56% among elementary schools, 45% among middle schools, and 30% among high schools) and 3,626 school staff from October to December 2005.7 Similarly, three Minnesota county health departments vaccinated 41% of all school children (K-12) in 2006. The study reported that school-based immunization programs offer the potential to achieve higher vaccination coverage of school children at modest cost.8

Past research supports the feasibility and benefits of conducting school-based influenza vaccination programs in terms of increasing vaccination in children, reducing school absenteeism and protecting the community from influenza. To help ensure pandemic preparedness and to establish an infrastructure for seasonal influenza vaccination of children, states should adopt school-based influenza vaccination programs to protect the public health.

1 Neuzil KM, et.al. Illness among schoolchildren during influenza season: effect on school absenteeism, parental absenteeism from work, and secondary illness in families. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156:986-991.
2 At http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr59e0729a1.htm?s_cid=rr59e0729a1_w. August 10, 2010.
3 Longini IM and Halloran ME. Strategy for distribution of influenza vaccine to high-risk groups and children. Am J Epidemiol 2005;161:303-306.
4 Principi N, et al. Socioeconomic impact of influenza on healthy children and their families. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003:22:S207-10.
5 Wiggs-Stayer KS, et al. The impact of mass immunization on school attendance. J School Nursing. 2006;22:219-222.
6 Davis MM, King JC, Moag L, et. al. Countywide school-based influenza immunization: direct and indirect impact on student absenteeism. Pediatrics 2008;122:e260-e265.
7 Carpenter LR, Lott J, Lawson BM, et. al. Mass distribution of free, intranasally administered influenza vaccine in a public school system. Pediatrics 2007;120:e172-e178
8 Hull HF, Frauendienst RS, Gundersen ML, et. al. School-based influenza immunization. Vaccine 2008;26:4312-4313.

Download POSITION ON SCHOOL-BASED INFLUENZA VACCINATION PROGRAMS (PDF, 50.7KB)