School wants to give all kids flu mist WWYD?

[IDoDis]

No one in our household has problems with vaccines, so I would say "Yes, thanks." It would save my kids from getting sick or lessen the severity and would prevent me from missing up to 10 days of work to stay home with each sick kid. I'm not afraid of them getting the flu, but if it's avoidable and everyone can stay at school and work and be healthy, then I say go for it.

 

[cathyce2]

ewwwww... that hadn't even occurred to me. I was undecided on the vaccine but thinking now maybe it wouldn't hurt to keep her home for a few days following the scheduled "misting" either way, just in case...

Exactly what I was thinking.... my girls will not be getting it and may need to stay out of school and away from those that do for awhile.

 

[Mysteria]

I'll admit I had to look this up. I had never heard of this. I have no children. I was picturing a bunch of kids in a room getting sprayed by something from the absolute NO reactions here.

I have no kids of my own but I'm not young either. I've been there through the years of family and friends trying to make the best decision for their kids. Best advice is talk to your pediatrician. You and he/she can decide what is right for your child.

 

[Disney Doll]

What would I do? I'd say no.
Presumably your children go to a doctor for regular medical care. That would be the person I'd be discussing flu vaccines with.

 

[RitaE]

Nope.



I do find it very curious however that they've chosen the Flu Mist vaccine over the standard injection. I wonder what the story is behind that.

 

[Disney Doll]

Nope.



I do find it very curious however that they've chosen the Flu Mist vaccine over the standard injection. I wonder what the story is behind that.

It's either cheaper or there's less liability with using the mist over an injection...no chance for an injection site infection or for someone to say "They used the same needle on more than 1 child so we are going to sue".

 

[laurie31]

Nope.



I do find it very curious however that they've chosen the Flu Mist vaccine over the standard injection. I wonder what the story is behind that.

Well, for one thing, it's been found to be more effective than the shot.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/may1706flumist.html

Lead author Robert B. Belshe, MD, director of the Center for Vaccine Development at St Louis University, said in the press release, "We discovered that [FluMist] was significantly more effective in protecting children against influenza infection. This is especially important, because this age-group is among the most vulnerable to influenza infection, and they tend to spread influenza to other family members."

FluMist had a combined 55% greater rate of effectiveness against both matched and mismatched strains (overall attack rates: TIV, 8.6%; CAIV-T, 3.9%).

But I have a feeling it has more to do with the reason our principal doesn't want to do in-school vaccinations at all - coping with hundreds of crying kids who are now scared to go to the school nurse's office. Plus there is no contaminated needle to dispose of, etc.

I've been getting FluMist for my kids and myself for years.

C Ann, from what the CDC website says, your DGD should be able to get FluMist with no risk to you, although you yourself should not. (bolding is mine)

Persons Who Should Not Be Vaccinated with LAIV

The following populations should not be vaccinated with LAIV:

persons aged <5 years or those aged >50 years;*
persons with asthma, reactive airways disease or other chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems; persons with other underlying medical conditions, including such metabolic diseases as diabetes, renal dysfunction, and hemoglobinopathies; or persons with known or suspected immunodeficiency diseases or who are receiving immunosuppressive therapies;*
children or adolescents receiving aspirin or other salicylates (because of the association of Reye syndrome with wild-type influenza infection);*
persons with a history of GBS;
pregnant women;* or
persons with a history of hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, to any of the components of LAIV or to eggs.

Close Contacts of Persons at High Risk for Complications from Influenza

Close contacts of persons at high risk for complications from influenza should receive influenza vaccine to reduce transmission of wild-type influenza viruses to persons at high risk. Use of inactivated influenza vaccine is preferred for vaccinating household members, health-care workers, and others who have close contact with severely immunosuppressed persons (e.g., patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplants) during those periods in which the immunosuppressed person requires care in a protective environment. The rationale for not using LAIV among health-care workers caring for such patients is the theoretical risk that a live, attenuated vaccine virus could be transmitted to the severely immunosuppressed person and cause disease. No preference exists for inactivated influenza vaccine use by health-care workers or other persons who have close contact with persons with lesser degrees of immunosuppression (e.g., persons with diabetes, persons with asthma taking corticosteroids, or persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus), and no preference exists for inactivated influenza vaccine use by health-care workers or other healthy persons aged 5--49 years in close contact with all other groups at high risk.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5306a1.htm

 

[taximomfor4]

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

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.
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®).

 

[taximomfor4]

Well, for one thing, it's been found to be more effective than the shot.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/may1706flumist.html


But I have a feeling it has more to do with the reason our principal doesn't want to do in-school vaccinations at all - coping with hundreds of crying kids who are now scared to go to the school nurse's office. Plus there is no contaminated needle to dispose of, etc.

I've been getting FluMist for my kids and myself for years.

C Ann, from what the CCD website says, your DGD should be able to get FluMist with no risk to you, although you yourself should not. (bolding is mine)



http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5306a1.htm

haha, great minds think alike.

 

[okeydokey]

If my kids' schools want to administer the flu vaccine this year, I'll say sure. Saves me a trip to the Dr.

 

[ameraumi]

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

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.
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®).

FWIW, we were told last year by DH's oncologist to NOT get FluMist but to get the vax. She said it was not worth the chance, even with a small chance of the live virus being shed.

I still think it is wrong that it is being offered in the school. Set up a special clinic after school hours if you want but you need to think about the ones around you who do not want their child exposed to the mist.

 

[Kath2003]

I wouldn't have it done.

But then I wouldn't get a 'flu vaccination UNLESS I had a reason why getting the 'flu would cause serious problems for me and my family.

 

[sissybells]

I would say Yes. I just got my DD2's flu mist yesterday. She starts a little pre-pre school on the 1st and it has put my mind at ease to know she has some protection. Me and DH will also get the shot and we will all get the swine flu shot when it comes out. I have talked to all of my Dr's about it and they all said that they would not hesitate to get it and that from everything they have read about it feel confident that it is safe. I spoke to my family Dr, my OBGYN and our Pediatrician.

 

[2girlsmom]

My kids' school offered this last year for the first time, I opted out. We have a pediatrician who is thus far NOT recommending my children get this vaccine, plus I got the flu shot last year and was very ill from it (supposedly NOT flu, just a flu-like illness), so I will not get it again. Also, I have spinal disc issues, and my back dr told me that I should not get it again as it increases the rate of myelenation (sp) to my disc sheaths.

 

[worm761]

I would go with no. I would have a problem with the school administering vaccinations or other medication without my pediatricians say so. I just don't think the SCHOOL should decide what vaccinations my child should get. I discuss that with his pediatrician. That is what she was trained to do. I understand their concern. I just don't feel it is their place.

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes, I would do it in a heartbeat, and save myself a trip to our peds clinic.

 

[jasta]

Me and my kids get the flu shot every year with no problems. Last year I think NJ mandated it for kids, and my kids did not get sick once this past winter....and they are in daycare where everyday someone is sick. Just by having all the other kids get the vaccine it cut down on illnesses in the school big time!! I believe the flu shot and swine flu shot should be mandated for everyone. That is just my opinion.

 

[wvjules]

I would go with no. I would have a problem with the school administering vaccinations or other medication without my pediatricians say so. I just don't think the SCHOOL should decide what vaccinations my child should get. I discuss that with his pediatrician. That is what she was trained to do. I understand their concern. I just don't feel it is their place.

The school is not deciding. Parents have a choice to opt in or out. No choice has been taken away.

If I were planning on getting DD the vaccine I would let the school do it. If I wasn't planning on getting it done then I obviously would opt-out.

 

[Dancemom03]

I am keeping an open mind but not favoring the idea as yet. I asked our ped just two weeks ago when we were there about the H1N1 and he didn't feel DD8 would need that and also felt like there might not be enough of it to get to the healthy kids anyway. I didn't even ask about the regular flu vaccine, not to mention flu mist, b/c that's just something we've never done so this whole school thing has me perplexed. I left a message for our ped to call me back. He's very experienced, has been the cheif of pediatrics at a large hopsital, and is fairly conservative so I'm waiting to see what his advice will be.

Whatever we do in the end, I just don't think it's a school's place to be dispensing vaccines during the normal school day - after all, they can't even give kids an aspirin, inhaler, or other minor daily prescription meds without multiple forms filled out in triplicate by a doctor, but now they can give a vaccine with just my signature alone on a permission slip? "HELLOOO... remember me, Nurse Nancy? I'm that parent you got angry at for pulling my high school senior down to the office for sixty seconds to slip her an unauthorized midol at the water fountain..."

The fact that the virus can be shed by a whole school full of children after the mist has been given worries me the most right now. To compound matters, DD8 still sucks her thumb (though not in school) so germs go right from whatever she touches into her mouth. Those of you who remember my thread last month about the vet giving my dog kennel cough/canine influenza while boarding know my luck is horrible. Heck, I don't even play bingo, it's so bad.

Before our collie nearly died last month, I hadn't even heard the term "shedding the virus" - $1400 and 1-1/2 tearful months later though those words can strike fear in my heart. I don't normally over-react but I no longer know what to think. I'd never forgive myself if something happened either way. One thing I am certain of though is that this morning, with the media hype chock full of flu death talk for the past forty-eight hours, I'm beginning to really resent what is suddenly starting to seem like manipulation...

 

[Mermaid02]

I would give my pediatrician a call- kids with asthma can't get FluMist so the school is taking a real chance here.