The demographic of people who can get MedImmune's nasal flu vaccine FluMist has expanded from ages 5 to 49 to include children 2 to 5 years old, following the FDA’s approval.

MedImmune announced Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved FluMist for children 2 to 5 years old. The nasal spray thus becomes the third vaccine available for children under the age of 5 in the U.S.

Fluzone, made by Sanofi Pasteur, is available for children and adults alike, and even for babies as young as 6 months. Fluvirin, a Novartis product, is available for use in children aged 4 and older.

FluMist, which contains a weakened form of the live virus and is sprayed in the nose, is not recommended for children under 2, as clinical trials have showed an increased risk of wheezing and hospitalization. Another important recommendation from MedImmune is that children suffering from asthma do not receive FluMist, because of the potential increase in wheezing.

People allergic to any of FluMist's components, including eggs or egg products, shouldn't receive the vaccine.

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend yearly flu vaccinations for all children aged 6 to 59 months (nearly 5 years old), parents will have more choices now.

FluMist has been shown to prevent almost 55 percent more cases of lab-confirmed flu than the injected form of the vaccine. MedImmune plans to produce about 4.5 million FluMist doses this flu season. They will probably be used too, considering the fact that health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated.

Federal health officials said 132 million flu vaccine doses would be available this flu season and urged people to prevent the disease, instead of treat it.

“Flu is a formidable foe,” Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday. “It is not an illness we should be complacent about.”

According to the CDC, nearly 20 percent of the population falls ill from influenza every year. Some 200,000 people require hospitalization and 36,000 die.

Children and the elderly are especially at risk, as well as people of any age who have asthma, heart disease, weakened immune systems or other chronic illnesses, and pregnant women.

The CDC strongly recommends vaccination to those taking care of the ill – relatives, health care workers, who are at risk of passing the virus on to people more susceptible to infection.

CDC data shows that only a fraction of the people that should get vaccinated (218 million) do so. Some 18 million of the 121 million doses produced last year were thrown away because they were not used, reports the AP.

The flu can cause mild to severe illness, and even lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year, says the CDC.