Doctors urge flu shots, not nasal spray, for children

For those fearful of getting a flu shot this year, 4-year-old Will Hudson has some advice.

“It's OK if you get a shot. It's going to hurt a little bit but not that much,” said the boy, shortly after getting a flu shot Friday morning at his doctor's office in west Santa Rosa.

That's good news, because children will not be offered the painless version of the vaccine this fall: a nasal spray, squirted into each nostril, that has accounted for about a third of pediatric flu vaccinations in recent years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the popular FluMist vaccine should not be used in the United States this year because it doesn't work as well as regular flu shots. On Tuesday, the American Academy of Pediatrics agreed, urging parents to choose flu shots for children ages 6 months and older.

Scientists can't explain why FluMist hasn't protected against certain influenza strains as well as regular flu shots.

“It's convenient, but it's not effective,” said Dr. David Begert, a family medicine doctor with Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation and Will's physician.

The CDC reported that FluMist was only 3 percent effective during the 2015-2016 flu season, which typically begins in October and ends in May.

“If 100 people were going to get ill, being vaccinated (with FluMist) would prevent 3 people from getting sick,” said Karen Holbrook, deputy health officer in Sonoma County.

By comparison, the injectable flu vaccine was 63 percent effective in children ages 2 to 17.

Earlier this month, Kaiser Permanente announced that it had canceled an order of 120,000 doses of FluMist for its Northern and Southern California operations ­- a figure equal to about 8 percent of the 1.5 million doses of flu vaccine that Kaiser gives to its members across the state.

Despite the FluMist problem, the CDC expects there will be enough vaccine to meet the typical U.S. demand, between 157 million and 168 million shot doses.

Vaccinations are getting underway in Sonoma County as shipments arrive at grocery stores, clinics and doctors' offices. Kaiser will start flu shot clinics for its members on Sept. 26.

Flu typically peaks in January or February, but there's no way to predict when the virus will begin to spread. It takes about two weeks for full protection to kick in following a vaccination.

The CDC strongly recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot, which reduces the risk of flu by 50 to 60 percent. On average flu kills about 24,000 Americans each year, including about 100 children.

“Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent flu,” Holbrook said. “We absolutely want to promote flu vaccinations, especially among those who are at higher risk for severe disease or bad outcomes.”

At-risk groups include infants younger than 2 years old and seniors 65 and older, Holbrook said. Others include people with chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, blood and nervous system disorders; people with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes; those who are morbidly obese or are “immunosuppressed,” either from illnesses like cancer or HIV; and women who are pregnant and within two weeks of delivering.

Dr. Caroline Hellings, a family doctor who works in the same Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation office on Stony Circle, said widespread flu vaccinations benefit those most at risk of serious illness from the influenza virus.

“When you get your vaccination, you're protecting vulnerable members of the community,” Hellings said.

During the flu season, which often takes off during the holidays, Holbrook recommended people take precautions beyond getting vaccinated. People who become ill with the flu should stay home, properly cover their cough and avoid contact with those most vulnerable to severe illness.

When possible, avoid illness, she said.

“Practice good hygiene, wash your hands and take care of yourself,” Holbrook said.

She said people should get vaccinated by their medical providers, but they can also get vaccinated at pharmacies or other alternative sites. A public flu clinic will be held at Santa Rosa Junior College on Sept. 21, from noon to 3:30 p.m. in the Bertolini Center. More information on public clinics can be found at: www.sonoma-county.org/health/topics/ influenza_where.asp.

Will's mother, Ileana Hudson of Rohnert Park, said her boy has been getting a flu vaccine injection since he was an infant. He cried the first few years, but at age 3, he realized the pain quickly subsided and he got a prize after the ordeal, Hudson said.

After his shot, Will proudly explained that the reason he no longer cries after getting a flu shot is because, “I'm a big boy. I'm 4 years old.”

Associated Press contributed to this story. You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.