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Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine / FluMistTM
The nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called
LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) is a flu vaccine
that was licensed in 2003. It is made using eggs and contains the same viruses that the
flu shot contains. It is different, however, because it contains
weakened live viruses instead of killed viruses that are
contained in the flu shot, and it is administered by nasal spray
rather than injection. It does not contain thimerosal.
The weakened, temperature-sensitive viruses in
the nasal spray vaccine can grow in the nose and throat, but not
in the lower respiratory tract where the temperature is higher.
The weakened viruses stimulate the body to produce antibodies
against flu disease, but they are not strong enough to cause
illness. Studies have shown the nasal spray vaccine to be very
effective in preventing people from becoming ill with the flu.
Who can get the nasal-spray vaccine?
Healthy people between 2 and 49
years of age.
Who should not get intranasal vaccination?
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Adults 50 years of age or older
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Children younger than 2
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People who have long-term health problems,
such as:
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Heart, lung or kidney disease
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Metabolic disease, such as diabetes
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Asthma, including children with a history of recurrent wheezing
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Anemia and other blood disorders
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People with a weakened immune system due to:
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HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the
immune system
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Long-term treatment with drugs that weaken
the immune system, such as steroids
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Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
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Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin
treatment (these people could develop Reye syndrome if they
get the flu)
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Pregnant women
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Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (GBS)
The flu shot (inactivated vaccine) is preferred over live, intranasal influenza vaccine for physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else coming in close contact with anyone with a severely weakened immune system (that is, requiring care in a protected environment).
Risks of Intranasal Influenza Vaccine
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious
problems, such as severe allergic reactions; however, the risk of a
vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Chances of live influenza vaccine viruses
spreading from person to person are very small. Even if such
spread should occur, it is unlikely to cause illness. Live,
intranasal influenza vaccine can cause mild symptoms in the
recipient (see below).
Mild Reactions to the Nasal Spray Vaccine
- Some children and adolescents
have reported mild reactions, including:
- Runny nose, nasal congestion, or cough
- Fever
- Headache and muscle aches
- Abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea
- Some adults have reported:
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Cough, chills, tiredness/weakness
- Headache
These symptoms do not last long and will go away on their
own. Even when they occur after vaccination, they may not be caused by the
vaccine.
Severe Reactions to the Nasal Spray Vaccine
Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very
rare. If such a reaction were to occur, it would happen within a few minutes to a few hours
after the vaccination.
These reactions probably result from hypersensitivity to
egg protein used in manufacturing the vaccine. Persons who have had hives or swelling of the lips or
tongue, or who have experienced acute respiratory distress or collapse after
eating eggs, should consult a physician to determine if the vaccine should be
administered.
- Symptoms of life-threatening allergic reactions include:
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Hives.
- Swelling of the lips or tongue.
- Swelling around the heart.
- Allergic asthma.
- Difficultly breathing.
If these signs occur, call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away. Tell
the doctor what happened, the date and time it happened,
and when the vaccination was given.
If rare reactions occur with any new product, they may not be
identified until many thousands, or millions, of people have used the product.
Like all vaccines, live, intranasal influenza vaccine is being monitored for
unusual or severe problems.
- For More information
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Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
- Contact Boulder County Public Health at 303-413-7500.
- Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) at 1-800-232-2522 (English)
or 1-800-232-0233 (Español) or online at
www.cdc.gov/flu.
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