Can you get the flu from the Flumist Vaccine?

[CindyBeth]

My dd got the flumist on Wednesday afternoon and on Friday(yesterday), she came home from school with a 101.5 fever, chills, chest congestion, dizziness and fatigue. Does she just have side effects from the Flumist vaccine or is it really the flu? And if they are side effects, how long will they last?

 

[summerrluvv]

Well, the flu mist has the live flu virus in it, so it very well could be the flu she has. Also, I read somewhere online a couple days ago (forget the site, it was a news one) that those who get the flu mist in their nose can actually give the flu to other people. I'll try to find a link for it.

 

[lsyorke]

The Flumist is a live virus, so yes you can get the flu but it would probably be less than a full blown case. FYI those of use nurses who work in hospitals can't get the flumist since we could transmit it to patients. This information didn't come out right away and alot of nurses were forced to take time off due to the possible transmission of the flu.

 

[gshoemate]

I know I was going to ask my doctor last week about getting the Flumist until I read that you could give the flu to others. Then I panicked that I would give it to my family since they have not gotten a flu shot.

 

[Deb & Bill]

At the hospital where I work, we have signs posted for visitors to notify the nurse if they had the Flumist. If so, they can't have access to any of the patient care areas. It could be deadly to some patients.

 

[Christine]

CindyBeth,
Let us know how your daughter does. It is my understanding that you cannot actually catch the real, full-blown flu from Flu-Mist, but since it is a live virus you can get a very subtle form of the flu which causes side effects for a few days. The old flu shots were like this and many people avoided them for that reason. I don't think it will truly give you the flu, but it can make you feel bad. So, I guess I would call this a "side effect" rather than the flu. Also, the reason they tell you to be careful around others with it is that the live virus lives in the nasal passages for up to 2 weeks. If your daughter *sheds* it, everyone can come into contact with it. This is not a problem for a healthy individual but is definitely a problem for people whose immune systems are compromised, which is why the nurses/doctors are given warnings. I hope your daughter feels better and I'd personally like to know how her illness progresses because I was interested in the Flu-Mist myself.

 

[Lorix2]

I dont' understand why the Flumist is a live virus. How can that protect you? Why would anyone want it?

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.flumist.com/con_about.asp

 

[Lorix2]

Thank you Dan.