Ontario to offer nasal spray flu vaccine for children

Ontario is introducing a new nasal spray flu vaccinethis year as an alternative to an injection in the arm.

The nasal spray, which will be available starting Oct. 26 forchildren aged 2 to 17, will offer protection against four fluviruses instead of three.

The added protection is against a B-strain of the flu thataffects children and youth more frequently than adults.

Parents will still have the option of having their children's fluvaccine delivered via a needle.

Adults will still be given the shot in the arm that thegovernment says will help protect against three flu viruses thisyear.

The Ministry of Health says up to 20 per cent of Canadians getsick every year with the flu, which sends about 12,000 to hospitaland kills about 3,500 people annually.