Are There Some People Who Should Not Get A Flu Vaccine
People who should not get a flu shot include:
- Infants under age 6 months
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a past flu shot or nasal spray
- Someone with Guillain-Barre syndrome or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- People with moderate to severe illness with a fever they should be vaccinated after they have recovered.
It’s long been advised that people with allergies to eggs should not get the flu shot. However, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says the vaccine contains such a low amount of egg protein that it’s unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in those with an egg allergy. If you have a severe egg allergy , talk to your doctor before getting the flu vaccine. The vaccine should be given by a health care provider with experience in managing allergic signs and symptoms and should be watched closely for at least 30 minutes. Also, flu vaccines that do not contain eggs are available.
Why Do Flu Vaccines Cause Side Effects
All vaccines can cause side effects, and the vast majority of these symptoms are completely normal. “Side effects are basically telling you that your immune system is working,” says Michael Knight, MD, a primary care physician and assistant professor of medicine at George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates in Washington, DC. “The immune cells are rushing to where the vaccine was injected to react to it.” Local soreness at the site of the injection, in fact, is the most common side effect after any vaccine jab.
Flu shots have been around since the 1930s and are considered extremely safe. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services , most side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and go away in a few days.
Read on to find out what you might experience after you get your flu shot. For the vast majority of people, none of these possibleand mostly mild or rareside effects are reasons not to be protected against influenza.
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Can Flumist Spread Or Cause The Flu Through Shedding
Shedding is very common with the FluMist vaccine. However, its very unlikely that this shedding will spread or cause the flu.
Shedding occurs when a virus in your body replicates and is then released to the environment around you. For example, when you receive the FluMist nasal spray, the flu viruses will replicate in your nose. Then if you sneeze, you could spread the flu viruses.
In a looked at viral shedding in younger children, ages 6 to 59 months .* In this study, shedding occurred in:
- 79% of children in the study
- 89% of children ages 6 months through 23 months old
- 69% of children ages 24 months through 69 months old
Another study looked at whether people actually catch the flu when others shed the virus after getting FluMist. Children ages 8 to 36 months received FluMist or a placebo .
The researchers found that 80% of children who received FluMist shed the virus. However, the researchers found only one instance of a flu strain in a child who received a placebo. Based on these numbers, they estimated that the transmission rate of the virus from those who received FluMist vaccine was about 0.58%.
These study results indicate that its unlikely that you would become infected with the flu from someone else who received the FluMist vaccine.
If you have questions about shedding or spreading flu viruses after receiving FluMist, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* The Food and Drug Administration has approved FluMist for use in children and adults ages 2 to 49 years.
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How To Report A Suspected Vaccine Side Effect
The Yellow Card Scheme allows you to report suspected side effects from a vaccine. It’s run by a medicines safety watchdog called the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and it’s a good way to of monitoring a vaccine’s safety.
Read more about the children’s flu vaccine.
Article provided by NHS Choices
Is It Too Late To Get The Flu Vaccine For The 2021
The CDC recommends getting vaccinated early in the seasonideally by the end of October.
But its not too late to get a flu vaccine this year: Physicians say now is still a good time to get one. Flu cases typically rise in February and can continue into May. And since it takes about two weeks to build strong immunity post-vaccine, the sooner you get inoculated the better.
Keep in mind: Since getting a flu vaccine is not a guarantee that you wont get the flu, its important to continue to follow other public health best practices.
Everyone still needs to be mindful of things such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your nose and mouth when you sneezepreferably with a tissue, so it can be discarded afterwardand using good hand hygiene, such as washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when possible, Lee Nguyen, Pharm.D., associate clinical professor for the department of clinical pharmacy practice at the University of California-Irvine, tells SELF.
If youre interested in getting a flu vaccine, you can get one through your primary care physician if you have one, or another health care professional, as well as through many pharmacies and public health departments. Sometimes, flu vaccination clinics are set up in workplaces or other frequently visited locations within a community.
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What’s In The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
The nasal spray flu vaccine contains small amounts of weakened flu viruses. They do not cause flu in children.
As the main flu viruses can change each year, a new nasal spray vaccine has to be given each year.
The brand of nasal spray flu vaccine available in the UK is called Fluenz Tetra.
The nasal spray vaccine contains small traces of pork gelatine. If this is not suitable, speak to your child’s nurse or doctor about your options. Your child may be able to have an injected vaccine instead.
You can find a full list of ingredients in the Fluenz Tetra nasal spray patient information leaflet on the emc website.
Flu Vaccine And Covid
The nasal spray flu vaccine does not protect your child from COVID-19.
Children aged 12 years and older can get the COVID-19 vaccineat the same time as the flu vaccine.
As a precaution, children aged 5 to 11 years should wait at least 2 weeks between getting their COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine.
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Are There Any Contraindications To Giving Breastfeeding People The Nasal Spray Vaccine
Breastfeeding is not a contraindication for the nasal spray vaccine. Breastfeeding people younger than 50 years can get the nasal spray flu vaccine as long as they do not have a contraindication to getting that vaccine. See Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization PracticesUnited States, 202021 Influenza Season for a list of contraindications and precautions for the nasal spray vaccine.
Who Is The Nasal Flu Vaccine Good For
The nasal flu vaccine is approved for use in healthy people who arent pregnant and are between the ages of two and 49, per the CDC. But there is a laundry list of health conditions that can keep you from being eligible for this flu vaccine .
Its sort of a niche vaccine, given that there are so many contraindications, Dr. Russo says. But it can be helpful for people who have a needle phobia.
While adults can get the nasal flu vaccine, most tend to opt for the shot. Generally, the nasal flu vaccine is more often given to kids, says Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Update: Zinc Nasal Sprays For The Common Cold
Everyone wants relief from the common cold as soon as possible, so many people have turned to zinc nasal sprays. Now off the market because of side effects, they may still be in your medicine cabinet. Read on before you continue to use them.
We’ve all dealt with the misery of the common cold and toughed it out until symptoms started to subside. Some studies have found that using zinc nasal sprays may offer a slightly shorter duration of symptoms, but recent warnings have thrown cold water on this common cold medication.
Zinc Nasal Sprays: Are They Effective?
There have been a number of studies done on zinc as a cold remedy, both in the form of zinc nasal sprays and zinc lozenges, to see if they really help. A review of the best-run studies found mixed results none for the lozenges and very few for the sprays. One study in particular, published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine went so far as to say that no zinc-based product should be put into the nose and that neither format worked.
“As far as the effectiveness of zinc lozenges and zinc nasal sprays on reducing symptoms, it doesn’t look like it helps that much,” says Timothy S. Caudill, MD, associate professor and chief of the division of general internal medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington. “They’re not very effective in relieving symptoms or shortening the course of symptoms.”
Zinc Nasal Sprays: Are They Safe?
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Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, influenza virus vaccine, live, trivalent may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking influenza virus vaccine, live, trivalent:
More common
- pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- redness or swelling in the ear
- shortness of breath or troubled breathing
- sneezing
Applies to influenza virus vaccine, live, trivalent: nasal spray
Side Effects And Risks
FluMist and Fluzone both contain vaccines to help prevent the flu. Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects.
Mild side effects
These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with FluMist, with Fluzone, or with both drugs .
- Can occur with FluMist:
Serious side effects
This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with FluMist and Fluzone when taken individually:
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Are There Side Effects To The Flu Vaccine
Some people experience soreness or swelling at the site of the flu shot injection. And some have mild side effects like a headache, cough, body aches, or fever. These usually clear up in about one to two days.
The nasal spray sometimes causes mild symptoms, including:
- runny nose, congestion, or cough
How Much Does Flumist Cost
FluMist is fully covered by most commercial and government-funded insurance plans, including Medicare. This means that you wont need to pay a copay or co-insurance to get the vaccine.
If you are paying in cash for FluMist, GoodRx can help you save. The lowest price for FluMist on GoodRx is currently about $30.
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Common Side Effects Of The Flu Shot
Some of the most common side effects of the flu vaccine include:
- Soreness, redness, a small rash, or swelling at the site of injection
- Headache
- Mild fever
- Nausea or stomach pain
Side effects typically begin shortly after injection and should only last a few days, according to the CDC.
“Headache, fever, and sore muscles are not a sign of allergic reactions,” says Michael McNeil, MD MPH, Team Lead for Vaccine Safety Datalink at the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office. “These reactions can occur as a result of the patient’s immune system responding to a vaccine.”
Most of these side effects are unavoidable, but to avoid arm soreness, try taking ibuprofen two hours before you receive your vaccination.
Important: While some people believe you can catch influenza from the flu shot, this is not true, since the flu vaccine does not contain any active viral particles.
How Is This Vaccine Given
This vaccine is given as a nasal spray into each nostril.
Children ages 2 to 8 years old may need a second dose, at least 1 month after the first nasal vaccine.
The influenza virus vaccine is usually given in October or November. Follow your doctor’s instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.
Since the influenza virus vaccine is redeveloped each year for specific strains of influenza, you should receive a flu vaccine every year.
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Influenza Virus Nasal Vaccine Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction:hives difficulty breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have. If you receive a nasal flu vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the vaccination provider if the previous shot caused any side effects.
Nasal flu vaccine is made from “live viruses” and may cause you to have mild flu-like symptoms. You may have flu-like symptoms at any time during flu season that could be caused by other strains of influenza virus.
Common side effects include:
-
fever over 100 degrees F
-
chills
What Are The Rare Side Effects
Fortunately, serious side effects from the flu vaccine are very rare, says HHS. One is a very small increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome , a neurological disease.
“Guillaume-Barre syndrome occurs after about one in a million doses of vaccine,” says Dr. Schaffner. “If someone has GBS within six weeks of receiving the flu vaccine, they shouldn’t get the vaccine again.” Most people fully recover from GBS. And as the CDC points out, there’s research to suggest that the risk of developing GBS is actually higher after getting the flu than it is from getting the vaccine.
Severe allergic reactions are “extremely rare,” affecting fewer than 1 or 2 people in a million, says HHS. Per the CDC, signs of a severe reaction can include:
- Difficulty breathing
Anytime someone experiences such symptoms, call 911 or head to the nearest hospital.
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Articles On Seasonal Flu Shot And Nasal Spray
Each year during flu season, at least one in every 20 people in the U.S. will come down with influenza or flu. Some years, that number can be as high as one in every five. For most of us, getting the flu means several days of feeling pretty miserable. Headaches, body aches, high fevers, chills, fatigue, and exhaustion are all part of the disease running its course. But then most people recover on their own.
But there are some people — primarily young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma — who are at higher risk of seasonal flu-related complications. In the past decade, flu-related illnesses have resulted in the hospitalization of between 140,000 and 710,000 people and the deaths of 12,000 to 56,000 people.
The flu is caused by influenza viruses that are highly contagious. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself against seasonal flu, and the primary way to prevent it is to get an annual vaccination.
This article explains what you need to know about the seasonal flu vaccine.
What Is Influenza Virus Nasal Vaccine
Influenza virus is a contagious disease caused by a virus that can spread from one person to another through the air or on surfaces. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, tiredness, aches, sore throat, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. The flu can also cause sinus infections, ear infections, bronchitis, or serious complications such as pneumonia.
Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. Influenza is most dangerous in children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weak immune systems or health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
Influenza virus nasal vaccine is for use in people 2 years to 49 years old, to prevent infection caused by influenza virus. This vaccine helps your body develop immunity to the disease, but will not treat an active infection you already have.
Influenza virus vaccine is redeveloped each year to contain specific strains of flu virus that are recommended by public health officials for that year.
Nasal influenza virus vaccine is made from “live viruses.” Influenza virus vaccine is also available as an injection which is a “killed virus” vaccine. This medication guide addresses only the nasal form of this vaccine.
Like any vaccine, nasal flu vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
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Who Should Not Be Vaccinated With The Nasal
- People less than 2 years of age
- People 50 years of age and over
- People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system.
- Children < 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing
- Children or adolescents receiving aspirin
- People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system
- Pregnant women
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.