MedImmune announced that it began shipping FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal) on July 31 for the 2008-09 influenza season. Early and wide availability of FluMist is a key component in maximizing opportunities to vaccinate an additional 30 million children and teenagers through the age of 18 years who are now recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to be vaccinated annually against influenza.

The CDC also advises that flu vaccine be administered every year as soon as it becomes available. Results of a recent analysis reported by MedImmune at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) revealed that starting vaccination against influenza in August may help reach an additional 10.7 million children, while they are at healthcare provider offices for already-scheduled visits.

"To meet the goal of vaccinating every school-age child and teenager against the flu, vaccination practices must shift to include opportunities across a longer period of time," said Norman "Chip" Harbaugh, MD, FAAP of the Children's Medical Group of Atlanta. "Early availability of FluMist gives providers the ability to reach more eligible children through back-to-school check-ups, sports physicals and annual well-child visits with a vaccine that has been shown to provide protection throughout the entire flu season."

FluMist is a live attenuated influenza virus vaccine indicated for active immunization of individuals two to 49 years of age against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine.

MedImmune is wholly-owned by AstraZeneca plc and is the worldwide biologics business for the AstraZeneca Group. The company has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.