Samitivej International Children’s Hospital Strengthens Protection for Your Child with a New Option for Flu Prevention Using a Nasal Spray. Ensuring a Healthier Future for Every Child.

Bangkok – September 17, 2025 – Samitivej International Children’s Hospital recently held an event to introduce a new option for flu prevention with a nasal spray under the slogan, “Influenza prevention for kids made easy” The event encouraged Thai families to take care of their health and provided comprehensive knowledge on symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The event also featured ‘Beam’ Kawee and ‘Oil’ Atiporn, together with their family, the Tunjanaraks, including their superstar twin sons Tee and Pee, and twin daughters Aiwa and Anya, who joined to share their knowledge and experiences about flu prevention.

Influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases in Thailand. According to data from the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, from January 1 to August 16, 2025 there were 453,629 cumulative cases of influenza, equivalent to a morbidity rate of 698.83 per 100,000 population, which ranks the disease second after COVID-19. The highest morbidity rates are found in children aged 5-9 years, followed by 0-4 years and 10-14 years. The most commonly detected strain is A/H1N1 (pdm09), and it is estimated that by the end of 2025, the number of cases will exceed 900,000.

Surangkana Techapaitoon, M.D., Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Samitivej and BNH Hospitals and Director of Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, stated, “Samitivej International Children’s Hospital is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare to ensure a healthier future for every child. In particular, we focus on preventing infectious diseases that are a major concern in society, such as influenza, because it can be more serious than a common cold. Symptoms can be severe, with risks of complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis. Today’s event aims to provide knowledge about the disease and innovations in flu prevention to reduce transmission and severity, as well as to raise awareness among families on how to protect against the disease through good hygiene and appropriate vaccination. This approach eases the severity of disease and improves the quality of life of children and families in a sustainable way. The hospital also emphasizes early care (detecting risks before the disease develops), and prevention (lowering the chance of various diseases). We believe the health benefits from prevention are better than the costs associated with treatment.
 

Assoc. Prof. Chitsanu Pancharoen, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, reported that, “In this late-rain, early-winter season, influenza is spreading widely, particularly among children and adolescents among children and adolescents in schools, and they have a high risk of spreading these infections to family members. Those family members may then be at risk of serious and even life-threatening complications. In Thailand in 2024, there was a case of a 7-year-old child who developed acute encephalitis from influenza A. 
Preventing influenza is simple with frequent handwashing, covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing (especially in public places), and getting vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends annual influenza vaccination, yet in Thailand, only about 12-15% receive it, so I encourage families to have their children and all family members vaccinated, whether by injection or the newly introduced nasal spray vaccine.”

Wiriyaporn Chanrachakul, M.D., pediatric infectious disease doctor at Samitivej International Children’s Hospital, stated,
“Influenza is not just a simple cold. If symptoms become severe when a child’s immunity is low or if they are not getting enough rest, there can be complications such as otitis media, sinusitis, or even pneumonia and encephalitis. This is why I recommend children receive an influenza vaccine every year. The influenza virus constantly mutates, on its own

Recently, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand and the Infectious Disease Association of Thailand updated their recommendations for two types of vaccines:
 

1. The injectable influenza vaccine, which has been widely used for decades, can be given from 6 months of age.
2. The nasal spray influenza vaccine, a new option for those who do not want an injection. It can be given to individuals aged 2-49 years. Its advantages are that it does not cause injection-site pain and can stimulate immunity directly at the nasal passages, the main entry point for viruses. Both injectable and nasal spray influenza vaccines prevent and reduce the chance of infection, offering parents options to strengthen their child’s immunity. Parents should consult a doctor before receiving vaccination.”