Flu shot or mist???

[D L and K's Mom]

My DS (19 yr old special needs child), and 2 DDs (18 and 6) are going for flu shots on Thurs. I asked about the mist while I was on the phone. The receptionist said they have both and I could talk to the nurses on Thurs about them......anyone heard anything good or bad about one over the other. I am going to talk about it when I get there but am hoping for some info. DS will have to get shot as he will not inhale.........My DD school is doing both in school in Oct but since DS tends to get sick I wanted them to get them sooner. My neighbor is a nurse and her kids got the mist..I have not been able to talk to her to inquire why...ok anyone??????

 

[minkydog]

The difference is that the flu mist is a live virus and the flu shot is a killed virus. Anyone who has chronic illness(asthma, diabetes, immunocompromised) should only get the shot. In fact, everyone in the family should get the shot. The ones who get the flu mist will shed the virus over a period of days, which you really wouldn't want if you have someone in your home who has serious health problems. Talk to your doctor about it before you take the kids in.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hang on a minute, I have some links that might help.

From the Centers for Disease Control/CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm

CDC Info Specific to Children: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm

Flu Mist for Children: http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

 

[dakcp2001]

get the shot not the mist, as the previous poster mentioned there is a very small possibility that you can contract the flu from the mist, this CAN NOT happen from the shot.

 

[erinlees_mommie]

DH is military and they gave out the spray last year ... and it is the first time he hasn't gotten sick from it.
WHEW because he is a big baby when he gets a sniffle.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

DD has lots of breathing issues as well as seizures so I think we will be getting shots. I am sure DD6 is going to be thrilled!!! Thank you all so much! I am still going to ask the DR or Nurse when we get there but now I have some info!!! Thanks again.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

DS has asthma...he got the shot
DD had pneumonia May 2008...she got the mist
Both last year and this year, no flu for either one
I get the shot and its STRONLYG recommended by my work
DH gets the shot

 

[lemondog]

Slightly more risk with the nasal mist as it is made from live virus, but in the end I have heard it's more effective at protecting you.

For healthy children and adults over age 2 my pedi actually recommends it. My girls will all be getting FluMist this year for the first time. They have always gotten the shot in the past but one of my twins is DEATHLY afraid of shots (still burned from her kindergarten shots this spring) so we're all doing the FluMist this time around.

 

[themilesfamily]

Our doc also recommends the flu mist over the shot for kids. Going that route offers some added protection.

But there are some conditions that require the shot over the mist -- asthma, etc. Our doc said that patients have to get permission from her to do the mist, so she can screen out patients with these types of conditions.

 

[Spoonful of Sugar]

One more difference is that the shot has some mercury in it, but the mist does not

 

[sunlver]

All 3 of my kids have gotten the flu mist the last 2 years..Frankly, my kids would pick the mist over the shot any day

 

[mickeyplanner08]

OK, I work in immunizations, and I have a 7 & 8 year old here at home. They have had the FluMist for the past 3 years. They BEG me to make sure that the doctor has the FluMist before we go in. It is soooooo easy. Literally, 3 minutes in and out the door at the office. No tears, no bandaids (no stickers cuz I'm a mean mom).

Anyway, for healthy kids, FluMist is great and seems to actually work a little better in studies than the injection. For kids with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart conditions or asthma, they still have to get poked. Family members, however, CAN get FluMist. There has never been any documented transmission of FluMist virus to a household contact. People who work or are family of someone in isolation prior to a bone marrow transplant should not get FluMist, but all other healthy people ages 2-49 are eligible.

As far as actually giving it....the 3-14 year olds seem to prefer it. The 15+ crew are about 50/50...some actually ask for a shot. It's super easy for me to administer, though.

 

[laurie31]

I'm a big fan of FluMist too. More effective, no pain - what's not to love?

Your doctor can tell you whether your DS19 is a candidate (I don't think you have to inhale, but his chronic illness may disqualify him) but your other kids can get it with no problem.

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®).

(bolding is mine - quote is from the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm)

My family will be getting FluMist.

 

[jsmith]

Hubby (also in the military) gets the mist because thats what the Army says he will get-he always hated the shots and always had a reaction-the mist is a much better thing for him. I have to get the shot as i have anemia and they will not give me the mist-which is kind of a bummer since i think its a better deal-no needle and faster immunity.

 

[minkydog]

I'm a big fan of FluMist too. More effective, no pain - what's not to love?

Your doctor can tell you whether your DS19 is a candidate (I don't think you have to inhale, but his chronic illness may disqualify him) but your other kids can get it with no problem.



(bolding is mine - quote is from the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm)

My family will be getting FluMist.

Hmm, the things you learn on the DIS. I'm taking DS14 to the doctor today to look at a sore place under his nose. While I'm there I'll ask about getting him the FluMist. DD16 is phobic about doctors and shots, a throw-back to her experience with middle school shots(she was so sick and sore!) She will be relieved to get the mist instead of a shot. Thanks for the info.

 

[sbell111]

One more difference is that the shot has some mercury in it, but the mist does not

This is not technically correct.

Flu vaccine is packaged in nasal sprayers, single dose syringes, or multi-dose vials. The single dose syringes typically do not contain thimerosal.

Just to answer the question that hasn't been asked yet, it should be noted that the ethylmercury in thimerosal has not been shown to cause any health problems. In fact, studies have shown that there isn't a causal relationship between thimerosal and autism, ADHD or speech/language delays.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here's what the CDC has to say about thimerosal in vaccines:

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm