Live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) are a type of influenza vaccine that have been in use overseas since 2003, but have not yet been licensed in Australia. LAIV are given by squirting the vaccine into the nose (as a nasal spray), so injection is not required. In years where the surface particles in the vaccine do not match the particles on the virus very well, LAIV is more effective than the inactivated virus vaccine. LAIV is more effective in young children regardless of how well the flu season virus and vaccine particles match. The main side effect from LAIV is mild and short term sore throat and runny nose. After vaccination with LAIV, the person ‘sheds’ influenza virus from their nose and throat, however it is extremely rare that another person would catch influenza from this.
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