So what do people think of the idea of a nasal spray vaccination?

[bumbleymummy]

Another thread mentioned that a new nasal spray flu vaccine has been developed and will be offered to all children from 2014. I'm not really interested in vaccinating against flu but I think that the nasal spray idea is an interesting one because it mimics how the body would naturally be exposed to the virus. I know there is a nasal spray measles vaccine being tested at the moment. I read about it a few years ago but I haven't seen any results of trials yet. It will be interesting to see what comes from them. If a flu vaccine has been developed with the same idea since then it does suggest that vaccines may be going in a new direction.

But the vaccine can't be to protect pensioners, as they have their own flu jab.
As I don't have a baby, my son doesn't need the flu jab. If I had a baby, and my son needed the flu jab to protect the baby, I'd need it, too. So would DH.

Quite right. If you had a baby that would be a very sensible strategy.

Absolutely. As I don't, DS doesn't need the flu jab. That's three doses saved in terms of cost to the NHS.

No, Tabitha8 that's completely the wrong idea, we're not interested in saving money, we want to spend more (but only on vaccines, though), really....

[Tabitha hangs her head in shame]

I should think so too

The flumist is being introduced as an alternative to the flu jab for children because it doesn't involve getting jabbed. I don't think the flumist is available for adults. The flu vaccine in general is important to give to those who are high risk. Here in the USA it is not required for the general population (as many of our other jabs are), but is encourage for the high risk population and insurance will generally pay for it if you are high risk, but not if you aren't. So for example, my insurance paid (subsidized) my shot because I have asthma, and my children's flumist because they are children.

this is one concern I have about mass vaccination of healthy people against flu (flu is mentioned at the bottom of the article).

Aparently, FluMist is fine for adults up to age 49.
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm/#vaccinated

Agree with Saintly, though.

I think the campaign and directives must be slightly different here in the USA.