To counteract the H1N1 influenza pandemic, two swine flu vaccines - a shot and a nasal spray - arrived on the scene in October 2009.
It's easy to be comfortable with a familiar vaccination method like injection of the inactivated virus. But many people are wary of the swine flu nasal spray vaccine. Learn the facts about flu immunization here.
Nasal Spray with Live Virus (LAIV)
The nasal spray vaccine is sometimes called LAIV, which is short for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine. The single virus contained in the spray is alive, but weakened to a point where it is not able to grow at the human body temperatures. This form of influenza vaccination has had FDA approval for seasonal flu since 2003.
Adults receiving LAIV only need one dose, but children ages two to nine must receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
Influenza Nasal Spray is Thimerosal Free
Many people have concerns about the use of the preservative thimerosal and its associated mercury content in some of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccines. The swine influenza nasal spray contains no thimerosal.
Who Shouldn't Get the Flu Mist Vaccine
LAIV is approved for use in healthy people ages two through 49. People who should avoid the nasal spray vaccine are:
- infants under two years of age
- women who are pregnant
- people over 50
- people with underlying medical conditions (chronic diseases, asthma, compromised immune systems, etc.)
- people allergic to eggs
- people who have had GBS (Guillian-Barré syndrome) in the past six weeks
Though getting the nasal spray during pregnancy should be avoided, receiving the nasal spray while breastfeeding is okay.
Nasal Spray Side Effects
The H1N1 virus is not capable of surviving at human body temperatures, meaning that it cannot infect the whole body or any of the internal organs. It can, however, survive for a short time in the cooler temperatures of the nostrils, meaning that mild flu-like symptoms may be visible for a time. Common side effects after getting the nasal spray flu vaccine include:
- runny nose
- headache
- wheezing
- vomiting
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- cough
- fever (in children only)
These types of side effects that are not uncommon to see some of the time after any routine vaccination or seasonal flu immunization.
Can a Person Get H1N1 from the Flu Mist Vaccine?
Because LAIV uses a live virus, there is a slight potential of spreading the H1N1 virus to others after receiving it. The American Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that the risk of spreading the virus is low, between 0.6% and 2.4%, and since the virus is attenuated it has an extremely low likelihood of ever changing into a symptom-causing H1N1 influenza virus even if it is contracted by someone else.
As a precaution, those with weakened immune systems are advised to avoid being in areas where the flu mist vaccine is being given, and those who get the nasal spray vaccine should avoid contact with severely medically compromised people for seven days.
Though it is relatively new on the immunization scene, flu mist vaccines have been around for several years. They are an alternative to traditional needle injections, contain no thimerosal, and work with a live, attenuated H1N1 virus. While certain groups are advised against receiving the swine influenza nasal spray, it is fine for a majority of the healthy human population to protect against the H1N1 pandemic.
Source:
"Questions & Answers: 2009 H1N1 Nasal Spray Vaccine," American Center for Disease Control. 7 October 2009.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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