Health Library

FluMist: A Painless Option to the Annual Flu Shot

by Debra Wood, RN and Rebecca J. Stahl, MA

Know Your Options | A Choice for Healthy People | If You Get the Nasal Spray Vaccine | Be Prepared

HCA image The flu strikes many people each year, and one of the best ways to prevent the flu is getting vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people older than six months get vaccinated against influenza. Two types of vaccines exist. One type is the flu shot vaccine and the other type is the nasal spray flu vaccine called FluMist.

Know Your Options

The traditional flu shot is made with an inactivated or killed virus, which stimulates the body’s immune system to fight off the flu bug. The FluMist vaccine, on the other hand, is made with a modified live virus. The body builds up immunity as the virus reproduces in the nasal passages.

A Choice for Healthy People

FluMist was developed with healthy adults and children in mind. It is safe and effective for healthy people aged 2-49 years old.

FluMist is not recommended for:

Adults aged 50 years and older

Children younger than 24 months

Children aged less than 5 years who have asthma or episodes of wheezing in the last year
Children or teens on long-term aspirin therapy
Pregnant women
People with:
- Chronic conditions (eg, heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, liver disease, metabolic disease, blood disorders)
- Nerve or muscle disorders
- Weakened immune systems
People in close contact with others who have a weakened immune system

Before getting the nasal spray vaccine, talk to your doctor if you:

Have severe (life-threatening) allergies, including an allergy to eggs
Have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine
Have had Guillain–Barré syndrome
Currently have a cold
Received a vaccine in the past 4 weeks

If You Get the Nasal Spray Vaccine

While the nasal spray does contain a modified flu virus, it will not cause you to get the flu. FluMist, though, may cause some mild side effects, such as:

In children and teens:
- Stomach pain (may have vomiting or diarrhea)
In adults:
- Cold symptoms (eg, runny nose, congestion, cough, sore throat, headache)
- Fatigue
- Chills

Life-threatening allergic reactions are a rare side effect.

Be Prepared

Ask your doctor which vaccine is best for you and your loved ones. Don’t wait until the flu is in high gear! Make the move to protect yourself. Remember that it takes about two weeks for the FluMist to protect your body. But the vaccine will last for about a year.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/

Flu.gov

http://www.flu.gov/

Canadian Association of Family Physicians

http://www.cfpc.ca/

Canadian Public Health

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/

Baker CJ, Pickerling LK, Chilton L, et al; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended adult immunization schedule: United States, 2011. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(3):168-173.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years —United States, 2011. MMWR 2011;60(5).

FluMist. FluMist website. Available at: http://www.flumist.com/. Accessed May 31, 2012.

Live, intranasal influenza 2011-12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flulive.pdf. Updated July 26, 2011. Accessed May 31, 2012.

Last reviewed May 2012 by Brian Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.