FluMist Update
Posted on October 11, 2017
Health New England supports providers and members in taking an active role to prevent disease. During this time of year, vaccination against influenza is an important step in prevention. You may recall seeing the notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding FluMist (intranasal quadrivalent live attenuated influenza virus [LAIV4]) for 2016-2017.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has continued the recommendation that FluMist (LAIV4) should not be used for the 2017-2018 flu season. This recommendation was made in light of the poor vaccine effectiveness against influenza A (H1N1) in the U.S. during the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 seasons. ACIP continues to recommend annual flu vaccination, with either the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), for everyone 6 months and older.
As the CDC and MDPH are not supporting use of FluMist (LAIV4) for the 2017-2018 flu season, Health New England will not pay for this product (CPT code 90672).
Below are several related web links for additional influenza vaccination information.
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/flu/new-flu-recs.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/2017-18summary.htm
