Looking for answers on flu mist...

[Erin1700]

I seem to find 2 different stories. If you get the flu mist, are you contagious? It is a live virus they give you, right?? I see some places it says you are contagious for up to 3 weeks and others say you are not at all.

Why am I asking?? One of the little girls I watch is just turning 2 and getting the mist. I have a son with very bad asthma. My kids are getting the shot on Oct. 15th.

 

[JessicaR]

Can people receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) pass the vaccine viruses to others?

In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown to mutate into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

 

[Shenandoah Minnie]

My nephew received flu mist last year and a week or so later my niece came down with the flu. My pediatrician reccommends that if you have a family member or close friend with Asthma not to get the mist...so my two kids get the shot every year. I hope this helps...

 

[mickeyplanner08]

My nephew received flu mist last year and a week or so later my niece came down with the flu. My pediatrician reccommends that if you have a family member or close friend with Asthma not to get the mist...so my two kids get the shot every year. I hope this helps...

But was your sister's nose swabbed and a sample sent in to be tested? Just because your sister got the flu does not mean that it came from your nephew. She could have been exposed in the grocery store.

The data don't support transmission of influenza disease from someone who got the flumist. Yes, the flumist attenuated virus has been shown to transfer in 1-2% of contacts, but that virus is attenuated and has not been shown to cause influenza disease.

I don't work for the manufacturer of FluMist, but I do give immunizations at my job. I spend all fall trying to explain to people that the flu shot cannot give them the flu.

Down from soapbox now!

 

[Christine]

I have only heard that the mist *might* be risky if you have the vaccine and then have close contact with an immuno-compromised individual.

 

[bumbershoot]

Can people receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) pass the vaccine viruses to others?

In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown to mutate into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

In bold, YES, the answer is YES.

She could have been exposed in the grocery store.

I spend all fall trying to explain to people that the flu shot cannot give them the flu.

In the grocery store, where often flumist sprays are given.

Looks like you need to update the info you're giving, considering the "only rarely" business, since if something happens rarely, means it still does happen.

 

[undertheradar]

Our pediatrician prefers the mist, says it is longer lasting and protects better.

 

[Erin1700]

OP here...I guess you can all see my problem! No one really knows.

 

[Deb in IA]

Can people receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) pass the vaccine viruses to others?

In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown to mutate into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses.
http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

In bold, YES, the answer is YES.

Jessica's answer was excellent, but sadly, you still seem confused, Bumber, so let me try to explain it to you.


Transmission is NOT the same as illness.
Transmission is what occurs rarely.
But even with transmission, actual disease is unlikely, because the virus is weakened, and does not have the same features of the wild type virus that causes illness.

Oh, and your Yes was in caps, not bold.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

Thank you, Deb! Apparently I didn't explain it clearly enough.