Nasal flu vaccine may help reduce cases of group A strep
Analysis by UKHSA suggests a nasal spray vaccine that offers protection to children against flu may also help reduce the rate of group A strep infections.
The live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is a nasal spray offered each season to most children aged 2 and 3 years old, and to school-aged children, to help protect against flu.
It was first rolled out in England from 2013, adding a school year each calendar year. In some pilot areas, the vaccine was given to all primary school years from 2013 onwards.
The new study looked back at data from 2013 to 2017, comparing rates of group A strep (GAS) infections in pilot areas and comparing them to other areas where the vaccine was not being offered as widely.
The study found that incidence of GAS was lower in pilot areas where the LAIV vaccine was being offered to all primary school children, compared to areas where it was being incrementally rolled out.
In 2 to 4 year olds, rates of GAS were 73.5 per 100,000 children in pilot areas, compared to 93 per 100,000 children in non-pilot areas.
In 5 to 10 year olds, rates of GAS were 50.3 per 100,000 children in pilot areas, compared to 57.8 per 100,000 in non-pilot areas.
There was no difference in scarlet fever or invasive group A strep (iGAS) notifications.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation and Countermeasures at UKHSA, said:
Our findings suggest that the nasal spray vaccine programme, which offers very good protection against flu, may also help contribute to reductions in the rates of GAS infections among children.
Children who catch influenza are at greater risk from subsequent infections, including group A strep, so these findings provide yet more reasons for parents of eligible children to bring them forward for the flu vaccine.
This is particularly important at this time when we are seeing unusually high rates of group A strep infection across the population.
The nasal spray flu vaccine given to school-aged children and pre-schoolers has an excellent safety record and has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide.
It is not too late for children to get the flu vaccine. Parents and guardians of any reception and primary school aged children who missed their vaccination should contact their local school-aged vaccination service, or ask at their school if you are unsure.
This winter the vaccine is being offered to secondary school aged children from school years 7, 8 and 9 in December and January, so if you have yet to send back your consent form it’s not too late. Parents and guardians of children aged 2 and 3 and children in a high-risk group can make an appointment through their GP surgery.
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