Which population is strongly advised to avoid live attenuated influenza vaccines?

Live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) contain weakened forms of the influenza virus and are designed to stimulate an immune response without causing the disease in healthy individuals. However, certain populations should avoid this type of vaccine due to potential risks.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid live attenuated influenza vaccines because of the potential risk to the developing fetus. During pregnancy, a woman's immune system is altered, which can affect her overall response to infections and vaccines. Additionally, the safety of live vaccines, which contain live pathogens, during pregnancy has not been established thoroughly, leading to a cautious approach that recommends inactivated vaccines instead.

In contrast, healthy elderly individuals, children under 2 years old, and individuals with chronic diseases may have different recommendations. For example, while children under 2 may not be the best candidates for LAIV due to their developing immune systems, many individuals in these groups can be vaccinated with live attenuated vaccines if there are no additional contraindications. Evaluating each population's immune competence and specific health conditions is essential when determining the appropriate vaccine types.