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UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) analysis suggests that nasal flu vaccine may also help reduce the rate of group A strep infections (Sinnathamby et al, 2022).

The live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray is offered each season to most children aged 2 and 3 years old, and to school-aged children, to help protect against flu. It was first rolled out in England from 2013, adding a school year each calendar year. In some pilot areas, the vaccine was given to all primary school years from 2013 onwards.

The UKHSA analysis looked at data from 2013 to 2017, comparing rates of group A strep (GAS) infections in pilot areas and comparing them to other areas where the vaccine was not being offered as widely. The analysis found that incidence of GAS was lower in pilot areas where the nasal flu vaccine was being offered to all primary school children, compared to areas where it was being rolled out by year group.