Flu nasal mist

[DisneyMom81]

Took my dds to the dr today and rather than getting them the flu shot, I got them the mist thing. The Dr said it has the same side effects, but works even better against the flu. Any thoughts?

 

[anniemae]

I think the main difference is that the mist is a live virus and the shot is not. I have heard the mist is more effective and suggested for healthy kids over age 2 (or maybe 3?) Kids with chronic health issues need to get the shot though.

 

[wdwmom2]

The Flumist is a modified live virus vaccine. This gives you a better immune response. Also, the Flumist is effective for about 9 months compared to the shot at 6 months.

 

[honugirl]

If you got the flumist, please look at how long you should stay away from immuno compromised people if you know any (people on chemo, heart conditions, chronic illness, etc). Since it's a live virus you can end up giving us the flu.

 

[mdezot]

My kids have been getting the Flumist for the past 3 years. 4 years ago they had the flu and that was a mess. So, we have been getting the flumist ever since without a problem. My kids are basically healthy kids who usually just go to the doctor for their yearly appts. So it works for us and they like that they can just sniff and not get a shot. I'd like the flumist for adults.

 

[DisneyMom81]

If you got the flumist, please look at how long you should stay away from immuno compromised people if you know any (people on chemo, heart conditions, chronic illness, etc). Since it's a live virus you can end up giving us the flu.

Oh no! My mother has breast cancer, but is not getting chemo. She takes a pill every day, and gets transfusions (or something like that) once a month. Is it ok???????

 

[honugirl]

Oh no! My mother has breast cancer, but is not getting chemo. She takes a pill every day, and gets transfusions (or something like that) once a month. Is it ok???????

I probably wouldn't go see grandma for a few days. Check with your doctor's office or the health department. I can't remember how long it's active for, but I was reading an article the other day about it. Apparently those who get the flumist will continue to shed live virus for awhile after getting it. That's why people like me can only get the flu shot, because it's dead virus, flu mist is not.

 

[DisneyMom81]

I probably wouldn't go see grandma for a few days. Check with your doctor's office or the health department. I can't remember how long it's active for, but I was reading an article the other day about it. Apparently those who get the flumist will continue to shed live virus for awhile after getting it. That's why people like me can only get the flu shot, because it's dead virus, flu mist is not.

Well I just called the Drs office. After keeping me on hold for about 5 minutes, they have to call me back...... I'm getting very nervous about this! My mother watches the kids for me twice a week, and tomorrow is one of her days.

 

[honugirl]

I just found this from the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians:

http://www.rigelweb.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=74

It says you can shed the live virus for up to 3 days afterward, but you never know. You guys could be completely fine.

 

[DisneyMom81]

OK, I just got off the phone with the flumist people. I was told that as long as the chemo patient is able to go out in the general public, then being around someone who has gotten the flumist is OK. The Drs office just called me back as well, and said almost the same thing. They said that as long as the kid who had the flumist doesn't get a runny nose, they are OK. That was a nerve racker!!!!!

 

[honugirl]

OK, I just got off the phone with the flumist people. I was told that as long as the chemo patient is able to go out in the general public, then being around someone who has gotten the flumist is OK. The Drs office just called me back as well, and said almost the same thing. They said that as long as the kid who had the flumist doesn't get a runny nose, they are OK. That was a nerve racker!!!!!

Glad to hear it's going to work out for you! I had been going off what I had read and what I had been told by some endocrinologists that my family should not get the flu mist around me. Hope everyone stays healthy and your mom is off any chemo soon.

 

[Scurvy]

OK, I just got off the phone with the flumist people. I was told that as long as the chemo patient is able to go out in the general public, then being around someone who has gotten the flumist is OK. The Drs office just called me back as well, and said almost the same thing. They said that as long as the kid who had the flumist doesn't get a runny nose, they are OK. That was a nerve racker!!!!!

I'm surprised by this - my mom is on immuno-suppressing medications and her doctor seems to feel that it's a bad idea for her to spend time in close quarters with someone who has just gotten the mist. None of our family is able to get it because of that. I would certainly trust your doctor, but I think I might warn the kids not to be kissing your mom or breathing right in her face for a few days just to be on the safe side.

 

[DisneyMom81]

I'm surprised by this - my mom is on immuno-suppressing medications and her doctor seems to feel that it's a bad idea for her to spend time in close quarters with someone who has just gotten the mist. None of our family is able to get it because of that. I would certainly trust your doctor, but I think I might warn the kids not to be kissing your mom or breathing right in her face for a few days just to be on the safe side.

I agree 100%. If I had known about this, I would have gotten the shot. No, the kids wouldn't have been happy about it, but at least I would have felt safer. And the worst part, my oldest DD DOES have a bit of a cold!!! I'm calling FIL to tell him NOT to help her blow her nose at all. This is really upsetting truthfully. I asked my Dr what I should know about this mist thing v. the shot, and never mentioned any of this.

 

[laurie31]

If you got the flumist, please look at how long you should stay away from immuno compromised people if you know any (people on chemo, heart conditions, chronic illness, etc). Since it's a live virus you can end up giving us the flu.

I'm sorry, but this is not true.

From the CDC:

Can contacts of people with weakened immune systems get the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®)?
People who are in contact with others with severely weakened immune systems when they are being cared for in a protective environment (for example, people with hematopoietic stem cell transplants), should not get LAIV (FluMist®). People who have contact with others with lesser degrees of immunosuppression (for example, people with diabetes, people with asthma taking corticosteroids, or people infected with HIV) can get LAIV (FluMist®).

The reference is to hospitalized patients so immunocompromised that they are in reverse isolation being in danger from being in contact with those who have recently taken FluMist. It is not a danger to those who are less immunocompromised that that, even those with HIV.

In fact, a study has shown FluMist is safe even for children who currently have cancer!

FluMist Safe for Immunocompromised Children
Drug Discovery & Development - May 11, 2009


Data suggest that FluMist (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) has an acceptable safety profile among mild to moderately immunocompromised children with cancer. The immune systems of children with cancer can be weakened due to cancer treatments, making them vulnerable to influenza or other infections. The small multi-center, randomized, double-blind pilot study compared FluMist to placebo in 20 children, five to 17 years of age. The results, along with data from 10 other MedImmunesponsored, influenza-related studies, were presented at the 2009 Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Baltimore, MD.

“In our pilot study, immunocompromised children with cancer who received FluMist had no related serious adverse events,” explained Pat Flynn M.D., director, clinical research, infectious diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. “We believe these data are promising and add to the extensive body of evidence supporting the overall safety of FluMist in the population for whom it is approved. A larger study will help us confirm the safe use of FluMist in immunocomprised patients. The value of this type of research is even more apparent today as we all consider how best to protect all of our patients against the threat of emerging, new influenza viruses.”

Date: May 5, 2009

http://www.dddmag.com/news-FluMist-Safe-for-Immunocompromised-Children-051109.aspx



mdezot, FluMist is fine for adults. I've taken it for several years.

FluMist is live virus but it is attenuated (meaning it is been designed NOT to cause the flu). So unless someone is in a hospital room with special ventilation and everyone who enters must mask, gown, and glove, then there is no danger from being with someone who has received FluMist.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

I agree 100%. If I had known about this, I would have gotten the shot. No, the kids wouldn't have been happy about it, but at least I would have felt safer. And the worst part, my oldest DD DOES have a bit of a cold!!! I'm calling FIL to tell him NOT to help her blow her nose at all. This is really upsetting truthfully. I asked my Dr what I should know about this mist thing v. the shot, and never mentioned any of this.

Would it be possible for someone else to watch your kids tomorrow so you won't be worried about your mom? My child is immunosuppressed as well and we were told no one who is in close contact with her should get the mist.

 

[jsmith]

I'd like the flumist for adults.
__________________

Healthy adults under 50 can get it-hubby is in the military and gets it every year-i cant because i have anemia-but pretty much the rest of my family gets it-likes it better than shots

 

[honugirl]

I'm sorry, but this is not true.

From the CDC:



The reference is to hospitalized patients so immunocompromised that they are in reverse isolation being in danger from being in contact with those who have recently taken FluMist. It is not a danger to those who are less immunocompromised that that, even those with HIV.

In fact, a study has shown FluMist is safe even for children who currently have cancer!



http://www.dddmag.com/news-FluMist-Safe-for-Immunocompromised-Children-051109.aspx



mdezot, FluMist is fine for adults. I've taken it for several years.

FluMist is live virus but it is attenuated (meaning it is been designed NOT to cause the flu). So unless someone is in a hospital room with special ventilation and everyone who enters must mask, gown, and glove, then there is no danger from being with someone who has received FluMist.

Thanks for the info.

I had been going off what I had learned from my own research and what my doctors had been telling me as well as the families of other patients with similar conditions to mine. We were all told NOT to get the flumist nor should any of our family members that are in close contact with us. So I believe there has to be some truth to what they are saying. I am not in isolation, but I do catch EVERY illness going around and am supposed to lock it down and limit exposure to large bodies of people when flu season is at it's peak.

 

[honugirl]

I found this on the University of Maryland medical Center website, in it it has who should not receive the flumist vaccine:

The flu shot (inactivated vaccine) is preferred over live, intranasal influenza vaccine for physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else coming in close contact with anyone with a weakened immune system.

Due to the possible transmission of vaccine virus, FluMist recipients should avoid being in close contact with immunocompromised individuals for three weeks following vaccination.

Here's the whole article:

http://www.umm.edu/features/flumist.htm#nomist

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

In a situation like this with conflicting information I like to go with the more cautious approach and avoid the mist around people who are higher at risk. Maybe it's true that's not necessary, maybe it's not, but why take the chance. When in doubt I would follow your physician's direction.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I am not sure what to believe. I was told that the flumist is better for children & will offer more protection from the flu than the flu shot. I was also asked questions about people my chid comes in contact with, such as types of illnesses, before we could consider the flumist.