Anyone try FluMist?

[wegs3000]

Blame it on the media but I'm hyper aware of the potential for the flu to dampen our March cruise. I know it won't address the swine flu but has anyone tried FluMist? I'm thinking it would be much easier on my 8 year old if it works.

 

[thewright6]

I have not personally tried it and none of my kids have ever had FluMist (they all get the shot) but a friend has kids that BEG to get the shot over the mist. We can't get the mist b/c my grandmother is 101 and you're not supposed to be around people with compromised immune systems with it. My friend insists her kids get the mist because it does have longer protection. If you get the shot now it will be basically gone in March. We're going in October so our kids have already gotten it, I figure I'd rather them be home sick in February than on the cruise sick in October.

Hope this helps!

 

[runwad]

I have 3 kids and they've been getting the flu mist for the past 3 or 4 years. No flu in this house. They are 13,11 & 9 and started when the youngest was 5 or 6. We've had no problems with it.

 

[cakesnjammom]

both of mine got the flu mist in nov. last year...no problems here! much easier than the shot....mine HATE the shot. the downfall is the cost...my insurance paid for it and I think most companies do~ but if you have to pay for it...the shot is cheaper. the mist was $75 per child!

just FYI it looks like a shot when the nurse brought it in the room and my kids freaked!

 

[es45]

We use it; although last year it wasn't covered by our insurance. No problems to report and my kids prefer it over a shot.

 

[karibritt01]

My pediatrician says that it is longer lasting and more effective than the shot. My son gets the mist, and my daughter the shot. She can't have the mist because she is asthmatic.

 

[gamomof2]

Make sure noone around them is on any type of steroids for anything, chemo for anything or immune compromised in any way. The FluMist is a live vaccine and can be shed for 2 to 10 days by a simple sneeze.

If you can try to get it on a Friday so there is less exposure at school and make sure you let their teacher know if it is given. There are children in school on meds that make them at risk due to asthma, diabetes, juvenile arthritis or even a year out from any type of transplant.

 

[Windermere]

$75 really?! It's offered at Walgreens for $29.99 in our area. Check the state laws though - you may need a prescription called in by the doctor in order to get it at the pharmacy. I think it's usually 9 - 17 years of age need a prescription.

 

[mmmears]

My DD got it for the first time (we usually just get the shot) on Tuesday and hasn't had any problems with it. And it hurt less, too!

 

[kileybeth]

Mine all got the mist last year and this year. They had their best winter ever health wise.

I am an insulin dependant diabetic so I can't get the mist but even tho one of mine got a slight reaction last year (no reaction for any of them this year) I was fine and never had a problem being with them or getting sick from them.

Our insurance covered it, BCBS. Our pediatricain was having hard time getting shots in stock they said as well.

 

[jonesing]

DS4 got it last year with no issues. He won't be getting it this year because I'm on immunosuppressive steroids so he'll have to have a shot. Our peds just canceled their shots tomorrow because they didn't get in the preservative-free flu vaccine they use on DD1. So, it looks like they won't have a flu shot in place by the time we sail next week.

 

[cakesnjammom]

$75 really?! It's offered at Walgreens for $29.99 in our area. Check the state laws though - you may need a prescription called in by the doctor in order to get it at the pharmacy. I think it's usually 9 - 17 years of age need a prescription.

yep...$75 that is the price my ped gave me when I called to schedule it...now this was Nov 2008 (was not as readily available as this year I guess!) but YES $75! Thank goodness my insurance covered it!

 

[wegs3000]

Thanks, all! That settles it - we are doing it. My DD hates shots and this is a great solution. Thank you for the heads up on insurance. I hope I don't have to pay out of pocket but it would be worth it if I have to. We are fortunate not to have anyone in our family with an immunity issue and getting it done on a Friday pm is a great idea. My pediatrican will have it available next month. And also, thanks for letting me know it looks like a shot as me and DD would have flipped out when we saw it - the ol' bait and switch would have seemed apparent.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Our pediatrician told us that the great thing about the mist is it protects you for up to 1 year!!
The shot only protects you for about 3 months. That being said only one of my kids had the mist last year the other 2 got the shot.

 

[lds0191]

DD8 also begged for the mist last year. Insurance covered it (she had to get 2 doses I think because it was the 1st time). Around here (Louisville, Ky) it is hard to find someone who gives it. We went to the clinic at Walgreens. No flu and no side affects.

 

[asreitzel]

Both DDs got it last year and they really liked it over a shot. Younger DD did get a few sniffles a few days later, but maybe she would have gotten them anyway. Who knows? Our insurance wouldn't cover it (the insurance company said that it was plan specific and up to the employer whether or not to include it - so call your insurance to be sure it is covered) so instead we went to Walgreens where it was much cheaper than our doctors office ($79 vs $29). We'll definitely do it again this year!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Bumping this up due to what my family Dr. told me!
Our pediatrician recommended the FluMist for our kids...the family Dr. my dh and I go to doesn not recommend it because he said if it is not refrigerated properly or handled/diluted properly it could make us sick. Anyone heard this before???

 

[Mom323]

Bumping this up due to what my family Dr. told me!
Our pediatrician recommended the FluMist for our kids...the family Dr. my dh and I go to doesn not recommend it because he said if it is not refrigerated properly or handled/diluted properly it could make us sick. Anyone heard this before???

Storing it properly shouldn't be an issue for your ped, they have to store the IM flu vaccine the same way, in the fridge.

Regarding dilution, FLumist comes in prefilled nasal sprayers from the manufacturer.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Sorry I think I phrased it wrong..I beleive what he meant was that if it wasn't properly handled/refrigerated it could affect the dilution? I had my 2 y.o screaming in the background while I was on the phone talking to him about it!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Sorry I think I phrased it wrong..I believe what he meant was that if it wasn't properly handled/refrigerated it could affect the dilution? I had my 2 y.o screaming in the background while I was on the phone talking to him about it!
OOPS...double post sorry!