Attenuated vs. Inactivated Flu Vaccine in Children: Benefits and Adverse Effects

In the U.S., vaccination with intramuscularly administered trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) is recommended for all children aged 6 to 59 months. However, live attenuated influenza vaccines may provide better protection than TIV and are administered intranasally. One such vaccine is already recommended in the U.S. for people aged 5 to 49 years.

In a manufacturer-supported, randomized, double-blind trial conducted during the 2004–2005 influenza season, researchers compared the efficacy and safety of TIV with those of an investigational cold-adapted attenuated trivalent influenza vaccine (CAIV-T) in 6- to 59-month-old children. Participants were enrolled at 249 outpatient sites in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Safety…