Toddler Flu Vaccinations

Combining administration of intranasal and injectable influenza vaccines during the course of an infant or toddler's vaccinations appears to be a safe and effective approach, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The researchers compared the effects of 3 vaccination regimens—the injectable formulation only, the intranasal formulation only, or some combination of the 2—in 65 children aged 6 months to 36 months (Hoft DF et al. J Infect Dis. 2011;204[6]:845-853). Use of a single formulation for the prime dose and boost doses and the use of different formulations were comparable. However, only those regimens that included a dose of the intranasal formulation triggered the development of a wide array of T cells. These findings suggest that use of the intranasal vaccine in this age group may be more likely to provide cross-protection against influenza strains not included in the vaccine.