Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Now Available For Kids | HuffPost

This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Getting the flu shot just got a whole lot less terrifying for Ontario kids!

Isabelle Khoo— The Huffington Post Canada

|

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Three-year-old Clayton Mathiason, of Omaha, Neb., receives a dose of Swine Flu vaccine via nasal spray from nurse Amanda Stern at Physician's Clinic, affiliated with Omaha's Methodist Health System, in Omaha, Neb., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Getting the flu shot just got a whole lot less terrifying for kids!

On Monday, Ontario introduced a new nasal spray flu vaccine as an alternative to the injection. The spray is now available for children aged two to 17 and offers protection against four flu viruses instead of three.

“The flu nasal spray is a good option for children who don’t like getting needles, and it provides broader protection by protecting against four strains of the flu,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “We want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for parents to protect their kids, and all Ontarians, by getting their kids vaccinated against the flu.”

While the shot in the arm only protects against three flu viruses, the nasal spray also protects against the B-strain of the flu that affects kids more frequently than adults.

According to the Ministry of Health, 20 per cent of Canadians get sick with the flu every year, sending 12,000 people to the hospital and killing 3,500 people per year.

To learn more about kids and the flu shot, flip through the slideshow below.

11 Things You Need To Know About Kids And The Flu Shot

Babies under six months don't get the flu shot.(01 of11)

Children younger than six months are in one of the higher-risk groups for flu complications, but they are too young to receive the annual vaccine.The best way to protect the youngest kids is for those around them -- including parents, siblings, and caretakers -- to get their flu shots. (credit:Getty)

Pregnant women can get the flu shot.(02 of11)

Pregnant women are able to get the injectable flu vaccine. This helps to protect them from the more serious complications, for which they are at higher risk, if they do contract the flu. But it can also help protect their babies before they reach the six-month minimum for vaccination, as the mother can pass on antibodies developed as a result of the vaccine to her child in utero and through breast milk. (credit:Getty)

There is a non-needle option for kids.(03 of11)

Have a child who particularly hates shots? Ask your doctor about the FluMist nasal flu vaccine. It provides flu protection through a nasal spray instead of an injection.

In some provinces, a prescription may be required and a small fee could apply.

(credit:Getty)

The shot is recommended for children older than six months.(04 of11)

Public health officials recommend that all children aged six months and older, with very few exceptions, get an annual flu shot. (credit:Getty)

You can't get the flu from the shot.(05 of11)

Some people report contracting the flu shortly after receiving a flu shot, but the two are just coincidental, not related.The injection vaccine contains an inactivated virus that can't make you sick -- it's impossible to get the flu from the shot.It takes a week or two for the vaccine prevention to kick in, so if you come down with something shortly after getting your shot, you were likely exposed before you were vaccinated. (credit:Getty)

There is no mercury in the flu shot.(06 of11)

The single-dose flu shot and nasal spray are both free of thiomerosol, a preservative that contains mercury and has been a source of concern for some parents.

As well, research that indicated a link between the preservative and autism has been disproven and officially retracted.

(credit:Getty)

Flu complications are common.(07 of11)

Children under the age of two years old are the group most likely to experience serious complications because of the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. And it's not unusual for kids to require medical care for influenza, especially if they are younger than five. (credit:Getty)

Some kids are at more risk of complications.(08 of11)

Kids with existing medical conditions -- including asthma, diabetes and brain or nervous system disorders -- are particularly at risk of developing serious complications if they get the flu, according to the CDC.

And the highest number of flu cases are found in children aged one to four, according to the Ontario government.

(credit:Getty)

Some children need two vaccine doses.(09 of11)

The CDC advises that some children aged six months to eight years will require two doses of the flu vaccine in order to receive its full benefits. Kids who are getting the shot for the first time should get two doses: one as early into the flu season as possible, and a second at least 28 days later. (credit:Getty)

The flu can be deadly for children.(10 of11)

A new study from the CDC found that 40 per cent of young children who die because of influenza have no other chronic health issues. The researchers found that there have been 830 flu-related deaths since October 2004 in children younger than 18 in the U.S. In examining the records of 794 of those children, they discovered that 43 per cent had no pre-existing conditions that would make them more at risk for serious flu complications.

The study recommends that sick children who are experiencing breathing problems or confusion should be brought to the hospital for medical attention.

(credit:Getty)

Your kids need the shot every year.(11 of11)

The influenza vaccine mutates yearly, and the flu vaccine provided each year contains protection against the three strains thought to be most threatening for that particular flu season. Getting vaccinated each year ensures that protection stays current. (credit:Getty)

Related

alternative to flu shot dr. eric hoskins flu shot flu shot 2015 flu shot and kids

Suggest a correction

-- This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.

From Our Partner