On Oct. 26, 2007, the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) voted to recommend the use of FluMist, the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV; nasal-spray formulation) to include children age 2-5 years. The vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the live virus and is sprayed in the nose, had previously been limited to healthy children 5 years of age and older and healthy adults up to age 50.

Every year in the United States, 5 percent to 20 percent of the population develops influenza, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and about 36,000 people die from influenza complications. The CDC recommends that all children age 6 months to 59 months receive a vaccination to protect against influenza. Studies have shown that children 24 months to 5 years were more likely to see a healthcare provider for influenza than older children.