The vaccine administered as nose drops is?

Appeared in: WCL Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The influenza vaccine comes in two main forms: an inactivated vaccine given as an intramuscular injection and a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
LAIV is administered as an intranasal spray, which is functionally the same as 'nose drops'.
This route is chosen to mimic the natural entry point of the influenza virus, thereby stimulating a strong immune response in the nasal passages.

Option A: The Rubella vaccine is administered via a subcutaneous injection, not as nose drops. It is most commonly given as part of the combined Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Option B: The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is administered as oral drops (by mouth), not as nose drops. While both are drops, the route of administration (oral vs. nasal) is different and critical.
Option D: The Measles vaccine is given as a subcutaneous injection, typically combined with the mumps and rubella vaccines (MMR).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Routes of vaccine administration as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowing the correct route of administration is a fundamental nursing responsibility for medication and vaccine safety. Administering a vaccine by the wrong route can lead to decreased efficacy and/or increased local or systemic reactions.
Patient education is key. A nurse must be able to explain to a patient or parent why a particular vaccine is given as a shot, oral drops, or nasal spray.
What if? If a 4-year-old healthy child is scheduled for their annual flu vaccine and the parent prefers no shots, the nurse can correctly identify that the intranasal LAIV is a suitable and available option for this age group, provided there are no contraindications like asthma or immunosuppression.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking to identify a vaccine given via 'nose drops' (intranasal route).
Next, systematically review the options provided: Rubella, Polio myelitis, Influenza, and Measles.
Recall the standard administration route for each vaccine.
Rubella and Measles are part of the MMR vaccine, which is a subcutaneous injection.
Polio vaccine (OPV) is famous for being given as oral drops.
The influenza vaccine has two common forms: an injection (inactivated) and a nasal spray (live attenuated).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full WCL Staff Nurse - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.