Any virologists out there?

[DizBelle]

The FluMist vaccine is a live virus. Could one effectively "share" their vaccine with someone else by sneezing on them (or something else to transmit this live virus to another person)?

 

[brittsmum1998]

I''m not sure if I'm understanding but I'll try. I have numerous chronic illnesses which compromise my immune system. I had the shot today. My dd11 CANNOT get the flu mist due to it being a live virus because she can still spread it to me. She can only get the shot. While I've been immunized it doesn't go into effect for a few weeks. I hope that answered your question.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is possible to get the virus from the FluMist vaccine. I think reports are saying 2 weeks is the window. That is why people with lowered immune systems cannot get the mist and if you have someone at home with a compromised immune system you should also not get the mist.

However viral shedding is spread just like any other virus with breathing, sneezing, salvia, etc...

 

[DizBelle]

I''m not sure if I'm understanding but I'll try. I have numerous chronic illnesses which compromise my immune system. I had the shot today. My dd11 CANNOT get the flu mist due to it being a live virus because she can still spread it to me. She can only get the shot. While I've been immunized it doesn't go into effect for a few weeks. I hope that answered your question.

Ah ha! I guess the live virus in the vaccine is contagious and you can give it to someone else. Interesting....

 

[Geoff_M]

Ah ha! I guess the live virus in the vaccine is contagious and you can give it to someone else. Interesting....

Well, sorta.... The live virus is "cold-adapted" and it cannot survive at temperatures above the cooler temps of your nose. Once it travels into the core of your body, it dies due to the heat. So yes, you can "pass it" in the cases of "close contact"... but you're not going to give anyone "the flu" with it anymore than you can get it with the mist. Here's the skinny on the issue.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Our immunologist says that it is possible to get it from someone who got the mist. Is it likely? Who knows but he prefers we didn't take the chance.

 

[DizBelle]

Just to be clear, I'm wondering if you can transmit the live cold-adapted virus to someone else, thereby giving them the "vaccine" as well.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Just to be clear, I'm wondering if you can transmit the live cold-adapted virus to someone else, thereby giving them the "vaccine" as well.

No you get the flu.

 

[bumbershoot]

That CDC answer is a little floopy...they veer from the cold/nose thing into reactions that people who have snorted it end up having, which makes it SOUND like they are still on the same subject, but they really aren't.


Other official info states that transmission of the live virus IS possible, as it has happened in clinical settings.

You wouldln't be giving the *vaccine* to someone else; you would be giving the *illness* to someone else. Of course, since it seems that once you have this particular thing you don't get it again, just like with all of those sorts of illnesses, having the disease does keep you from getting it again (though I knew someone who had diagnosed smallpox TWICE, how fun would THAT be?), which is the pre-vaccine form of vaccination (and the type I prefer).

 

[Deb in IA]

You wouldln't be giving the *vaccine* to someone else; you would be giving the *illness* to someone else.

NO. Since the vaccine does not cause "illness", this cannot happen.

(though I knew someone who had diagnosed smallpox TWICE, how fun would THAT be?), which is the pre-vaccine form of vaccination (and the type I prefer).

Really? The last documented case of wild type smallpox (the correct scientific name for what I am assuming you are calling the "pre-vaccine" form) occurred in Somalia in 1977, over 30 years ago.

 

[DizBelle]

So, the cold-adapted live virus in the flu mist vaccine somehow transforms into the original, nasty flu virus when it is transmitted to someone else?

 

[C.Ann]

(though I knew someone who had diagnosed smallpox TWICE, how fun would THAT be?), which is the pre-vaccine form of vaccination (and the type I prefer).

When? Where? How? Certainly not in the U.S. - correct? Are you sure it was smallpox?

 

[phorsenuf]

It is possible to get the virus from the FluMist vaccine. I think reports are saying 2 weeks is the window. That is why people with lowered immune systems cannot get the mist and if you have someone at home with a compromised immune system you should also not get the mist.

I did not know that. Very good to learn. Due to my various medical conditions I've been on the fence about getting one. I'm kinda in a damned if you do, damned if you don't category.

(snip)

(though I knew someone who had diagnosed smallpox TWICE, how fun would THAT be?), which is the pre-vaccine form of vaccination (and the type I prefer).

Oh puhleeeze. Do you make this stuff up as you go along or what? You always have the most way out there medical stories.

I would think that something like that would be documented in a medical journal or something, how could it not? Show me a source and if it's true I will never raise an eyebrow at another one of your stories again.

 

[dumboiu]

Really? The last documented case of wild type smallpox (the correct scientific name for what I am assuming you are calling the "pre-vaccine" form) occurred in Somalia in 1977, over 30 years ago.

Thanks for the reality check!

 

[wdwmom2]

II would think that something like that would be documented in a medical journal or something, how could it not? Show me a source and if it's true I will never raise an eyebrow at another one of your stories again.

The last documented case of smallpox in the US was in Texas in 1949.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp

 

[crashbb]

NO. Since the vaccine does not cause "illness", this cannot happen.

Although I suspect it cannot happen with the H1N1 vaccine there have been documented cases of polio being transmitted in a similar manner. Some people who got the live version did get polio and/or they transmitted it to immunocompromised people around them. The vaccine wasn't supposed to cause "illness", but, in rare cases it did.

Really? The last documented case of wild type smallpox (the correct scientific name for what I am assuming you are calling the "pre-vaccine" form) occurred in Somalia in 1977, over 30 years ago.

I *think* she meant that the "pre-vaccine form of vaccination" is when you don't get the disease again after getting it the first time. That, of course, assumes you survive getting it the first time. Frankly, not my preferred method for many diseases.

 

[Geoff_M]

Just to be clear, I'm wondering if you can transmit the live cold-adapted virus to someone else, thereby giving them the "vaccine" as well.

It is possible to pass the weakened live virus to someone, but it requires a certain amount of the virus to be in your body in order to trigger your body's immune response. It's highly unlikely that even if you passed some virus to a 2nd person it would be enough to immunize them too.