What is the nasal spray flu vaccine?

The nasal spray flu vaccine contains weakened live flu virus cells that will not cause you to develop the flu, but can help your body develop antibodies to protect you against it. In contrast, the flu shot is made up of killed flu virus cells.

Both types of flu vaccine protect against three influenza viruses that research has found will be more common in a particular season. Studies show that the nasal spray flu vaccine works about as well as the flu shot at preventing flu infection.