What Are The Risks From Laiv
- Runny nose or nasal congestion, wheezing and headache can happen after LAIV vaccination.
- Vomiting, muscle aches, fever, sore throat and cough are other possible side effects.
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after vaccination and are mild and short-lived.
As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.
Flu Nasal Spray For Pre
Prevention of Flu for all children, has now been brought in by the Government.
Primary School children will be offered the vaccine at school, and the parents of under 5 year olds are invited to arrange an appointment for their children, with the Practice Nurse at their GP Practice. The vaccine is not a jag, but a fine mist spray which goes in each nostril. Its not sore or distressing, and is an excellent way of Flu prevention.
Many people say the have the flu when they in fact have the common cold. The influenza virus is much more serious than the cold, and still causes thousands of hospital admissions and deaths to people with underlying conditions every year.
This campaign, as well as protecting children, also provides better protection of the elderly and those at higher risk of Flu and its complications. This is because children spread flu more than anyone else, because they are unaware of covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, they dont understand about only using a paper handkerchief once and disposing of it into a bin, and then washing their hands to prevent the spread of Flu germs. So if they are immunised, they will spread less germs to those who are at more risk.
So by having your child immunised against flu, you are not only protecting them, but also protecting their Grandparents and relatives from the flu and also potentially Pneumonia, Heart Failure and Stroke which have been found to be complications of elderly people if they get the flu.
How The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Is Given
The vaccine is given as a spray squirted up each nostril. It’s quick and painless.
The vaccine will still work even if your child gets a runny nose, sneezes or blows their nose.
Your child will be given 2 doses if they’re under 9 years old and have both:
- a long-term health condition that means they’re more at risk from flu
- never had a flu vaccine before
These doses are given 4 weeks apart.
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I Have Asthma Can I Still Get Flumist
It depends. If you have asthma, you may be at a higher risk for developing wheezing when you receive the FluMist vaccine. Children younger than age 5 years who have wheezing that keeps returning may also be at risk for wheezing with FluMist.
If either of these situations apply, the doctor may monitor you or your child for a longer time than usual after a dose of FluMist. This allows them to treat any wheezing that occurs. In some cases, the doctor may recommend that you or your child have a flu shot instead. Talk with your doctor about the best flu vaccine for you or your child.
The Flu Vaccine And The Coronavirus Pandemic
Those more at risk of getting flu are also more at risk of COVID 19. If you have the flu vaccine, you are helping to protect yourself from flu and any problems and hospital admissions this could lead to. This is even more important while COVID 19 is in circulation. You are also helping to reduce pressure on NHS services.
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Flu Shot Vs Nasal Spray: Which Vaccine Is Better This Year
The messaging couldnt be more clear: Everyone who is over the age of 6 months and able should get the flu vaccine this year. But while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health officials have stressed the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu this fall, there hasnt been a lot of discussion about which kind to get.
There are several types of flu vaccines, but they can generally be grouped into two categories: the shot and the nasal spray. Each is slightly different, and its understandable to have questions about which is right for you. Heres what you need to know.
What is the difference between the flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine?
There are actually several. At a very basic level, the flu shot is given with a needle in your arm while the nasal spray vaccine is misted into your nose. But the differences dont end there.
The flu shot uses an inactivated version of the flu to stimulate your immune system, while the nasal spray vaccine uses an attenuated live virus, the CDC explains. While both vaccines may cause flu-like side effects, neither vaccine can actually give you the flu, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life.
There are different forms of the flu shot, but many people under the age of 65 will receive the quadrivalent flu shot. Thats designed to protect against the following strains, per the CDC:
The Shot Also Protects Everyone Around Your Kids
The flu can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications. Dr. Esper says having your child vaccinated can protect them from the flu but it also protects people around them who may be high risk.
There are a lot of people that we know who are really at-risk for having really bad flu people who have asthma, or people who have bad immune systems because theyre undergoing some medications thats reducing their immune system, or they have cancer or you have a baby, and newborn babies cannot get the flu vaccine, but they can really get bad flu, he notes.
The flu shot can take two to four weeks before its fully effective, he adds. So its best to be vaccinated sooner, rather than later.
But at the end of the day, Dr. Esper says, if you have a child whos terrified of needles and youre avoiding the flu shot because of it, the nasal vaccine is an option. Its more important to receive any flu vaccination than none at all.
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Flumist For Preventing The Flu
FluMist is FDA-approved to help prevent influenza caused by the influenza A or influenza B virus. FluMist is for use in children and adults ages 2 to 49 years.
The flu is a contagious viral infection that affects your respiratory system. The flu can be mild or serious, and in rare cases, it can lead to death. Because of the possible risks, its recommended that you receive a flu vaccine each year to help prevent you from getting the flu.
Symptoms of both forms of influenza include:
Effectiveness for preventing the flu
FluMist was studied in a clinical trial of adults ages 18 to 49 years. Researchers followed people in the study over the course of 7 weeks. People who were vaccinated with FluMist were 10.9% less likely to develop an illness with a fever than people who received a placebo. The placebo was a nasal spray that didnt contain the vaccine.
People vaccinated with FluMist were also 23.7% less likely to develop an upper respiratory infection with a fever, compared with people who received a placebo. Upper respiratory infections include the common cold.
FluMist wasnt compared with the flu shot in clinical trials of adults.
Flumist And Other Vaccines
Heres some information on whether FluMist can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
FluMist is a live vaccine. This means that FluMist has live flu viruses in it that have been changed so that they shouldnt infect you with the flu. Inactive vaccines, on the other hand, dont have live viruses in them.
FluMist and inactive vaccines
FluMist hasnt been studied when given with inactive vaccines.
Examples of inactive vaccines include:
If you plan to get FluMist and think you need an inactive vaccine, ask your doctor when the best time is to get them.
FluMist and other live vaccines
FluMist is a live vaccine. It has been studied when given with other live vaccines.
One study looked at children ages 12 to 15 months. They received FluMist alone or FluMist with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and chickenpox vaccines. There was no difference in how the childrens bodies reacted to the vaccines in either group. However, its important to note that FluMist isnt approved for use in children ages 12 to 15 months. The vaccine is approved to be used only in children and adults ages 2 through 49 years.
Examples of other live vaccines include:
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Flumist And Other Medications
Below are some of the medications that can interact with FluMist. This section doesnt contain all drugs that may interact with FluMist.
Before taking FluMist, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
FluMist and aspirin
Children ages 2 through 17 years who are taking aspirin or medication that has aspirin in it shouldnt get the FluMist vaccine.
FluMist is a live vaccine. This means that FluMist has live flu viruses in it that have been changed so that they shouldnt infect your child with the flu. If your childs immune system is healthy, their body should be able to fight the flu viruses in the vaccine. But if your child has an infection, their immune system may be too weak to fight the vaccines flu viruses.
If your child takes aspirin and is infected with the flu, theres a possible risk of Reyes syndrome. This is a rare but very serious disease that affects the brain and liver. Its not known exactly what causes Reyes syndrome. However, children who are recovering from an infection are usually at the highest risk for Reyes syndrome. And there may be a link between children who take aspirin for a viral infection and developing Reyes syndrome.
- baloxavir marboxil
Should My Child Get The Flu Vaccine
Its really important to get your child vaccinated, which is why the flu nasal spray is a routine vaccination for all British children aged 2 -11 years and young adults aged 12-17 years with a long-term health condition.
The two main reasons to get your child vaccinated are:
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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.
Can I Receive The Flumist Vaccine If I Have Or Think I Have Covid
No. You shouldnt receive the FluMist vaccine if you have or think you have COVID-19.
If you have COVID-19, your doctor has likely told you to self-isolate . In this case, you shouldnt go out to receive the FluMist vaccine. Once your doctor has told you that youre no longer able to transmit COVID-19 to others, you can ask your doctor if FluMist is right for you.
If you think you have COVID-19, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the right testing for you. If the tests show that you dont have COVID-19, your doctor may say that you can get FluMist or a flu shot.
If you have questions about FluMist or COVID-19, talk with your doctor.
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Live Vs Inactive Vaccine
FluMist is a live vaccine. This means that FluMist has live flu viruses in it that have been weakened so that they shouldnt infect you with the flu.
In comparison, flu shots are inactive vaccines that dont have live viruses in them. As a result, flu shots cant cause the flu.
Because FluMist is a live vaccine, you shouldnt get FluMist if you have certain conditions, such as a weakened immune system. If you have a weakened immune system and youre immunized with FluMist, you may become infected with the flu. This is because your immune system may not be strong enough to fight the flu viruses in the vaccine.
If you have any questions about the difference between the FluMist nasal spray and a flu shot, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide which is the best option for you.
How Is Flumist Administered
Even though FluMist is a nasal vaccine, you still need a healthcare provider to administer it to you. FluMist comes in a prefilled sprayer, which is first sprayed into one nostril and then into the other.
Children ages 2 through 8 may need to get FluMist twice, with at least 1 month in between each dose. This will depend on how many times the child has received the flu vaccine before and when. People ages 9 through 49 will only need 1 dose.
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Before Taking This Medicine
You should not receive FluMist if you are allergic to eggs, or if you have:
-
a history of severe allergic reaction to any flu vaccine or
-
if you are between 2 and 17 years old and have recently taken aspirin.
FluMist is not approved for use by children younger than 2 years or adults older than 49 years.
You should not receive a FluMistif you have used:
-
oseltamivir or zanamivir in the past 48 hours
-
peramivir in the past 5 days or
-
baloxavir in the past 17 days.
You may not be able to receive FluMist if you have certain medical conditions. Tell the vaccination provider if you have:
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asthma, wheezing, or other breathing problems
-
a history of wheezing
-
a weak immune system
-
heart problems
-
kidney disease or
-
diabetes.
If you are unable to receive FluMist due to a medical condition, you may be able to get an injectable influenza vaccine instead.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving FluMist.
Tell your vaccination provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Nasal flu vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy to protect themselves and their newborn babies from flu.
Flumist Nasal Spray At Pharmacies This Fall
Pharmacies and clinics offering the nasal spray will be listed for the public at immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu.
As public demand for pharmacist-administered flu vaccines is anticipated to increase this flu season, a new publicly funded nasal spray vaccine will offer greater choice for young patients.For the first time, pharmacists will have the opportunity to offer FluMist Quadrivalent, a live attenuated influenza vaccine that protects against four strains of influenza, to eligible children aged 2-17. The nasal spray will be available at pharmacies, health units and some doctors offices.FluMist is given as an intranasal spray into both nostrils. Children 9 years old and up need one dose of vaccine, while those aged two to eight who have never received a seasonal influenza vaccine need two doses to raise their level of protection. The second dose should be administered four weeks after the first dose.Because FluMist contains weakened influenza viruses, children may experience mild flu symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, fever, headache, or decreased appetite. Those children who are immunocompromised should not receive FluMist.
This article is featured in The Tablet. The Tablet features pharmacy and industry news, profiles on B.C. pharmacists, information on research developments and new products.
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How Effective Is Flumist Compared To Other Flu Vaccines
FluMist targets the same flu viruses as other flu vaccines this year. Because flu vaccines are based on a prediction of which flu viruses will be circulating, we wont have data on the effectiveness of this years flu vaccines until after the flu season is over. However, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older get a flu vaccine. There is no preference for any of the flu vaccines that are currently available, as long as it has been approved for your age group.
The type of flu vaccine that is best for each individual will depend on their age and health. Talk to your provider if youre unsure which vaccine is right for you. Especially given that this years flu season will coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic, the most important thing is that you get a flu vaccine.