

The new nasal FLU vaccine

(11 Posts)
Kamchatka Sun 22-Sep-13 15:28:36

Pinklemon, I'm an anonymous person on the internet, so I think anyone would be mad to take a recommendation off me grin
However it has been offered to my child too and we have decided yes.
My reasoning is that flu is a disease which does not always worst affect people in high risk categories. It mutates a lot, so a vaccine will always be basically a season or half a season behind the most predominant strains, but there is evidence that some immunity to a older strain which gave rise to the latest mutation is beneficial. I hope I've got that right. (Met an epidemiologist at a party, you know...)

DD's having it. The letter and leaflet don't mention a second dose, perhaps this isn't being ffered.

ClayDavis Sun 22-Sep-13 12:42:01

It's only 3 strains. The line in brackets with MedI and a number are essentially the brand name of the strain in the unbracketed line above.

There's 2 influenza A strains and 1 influena B which is the same number as a standard flu shot.

Pinklemon Fri 20-Sep-13 17:21:07

So Kamchatka, would you recommend this vaccine? Do you think this is necessary for healthy individuals?

Kamchatka Fri 20-Sep-13 09:39:24

I understand. It's attenuated live vaccine though: the virulence is reduced to a level where the vaccine can provoke the immune system into producing antibodies without causing actual infection. I know many people get mild symptoms after a flu vaccine, but it's really nothing like having six doses of full flu virus all at once.

Pumpkinette Fri 20-Sep-13 08:53:39

Sorry for the double post. My phone is doing strange things this morning.

Pumpkinette Fri 20-Sep-13 08:52:58

I think my concern is over the number. I was under the impression the standard flu shot was 2 strains of virus but the nasal spray appears to have 6.

I am aware we are in contact with thousands of viruses and Bactria and germs each day, but the flu is a pretty serious virus and to have 6 live flu strains given to my daughter in one go seems like a lot. More so if she has to get a further dose 4 weeks later.

feelthis Thu 19-Sep-13 23:16:17

Our school is doing this too. I've said yes for the dc.

Kamchatka Thu 19-Sep-13 23:06:30

The strains in the vaccine change yearly and are based on research which shows which are the most prevalent/virulent strains that year.
In terms of the number of strains in the vaccine: your body meets literally thousands of viral challenges per day. You are unaware of them largely because of your immune system. Many will be quite weak challenges but will provoke an immune response nevertheless. If all of them were catalogued and named, you'd be pretty shocked.

Shenanagins Thu 19-Sep-13 23:01:16

I got a letter today as well. To be honest i hadn't put much thought into this as i will arrange to get both of us done at the same time (I'm in a high risk group so have been getting it for years).

Pumpkinette Thu 19-Sep-13 22:43:11

I came home this evening to find an invitation for DD to get the nasal Flu Vaccine and I am undecided what to do. Has anyone else been offered this yet? Did you take it or decline?

I have in the past avoided getting the flu vaccine for myself. I am not in a risk group but my workplace offers it for free each year. I may consider getting it this year but still undecided. My daughter has no health issues to speak of and is generally quite well health wise. She gets the odd bug nothing major.

I have been researching the topic and I am swaying towards getting it for her. I know they have been using this type of vaccine in America for about 10 years now so I'm not doubting it because its new or I teasted. My concerns from reading the patient information leaflets and details on is this:

Reassortant influenza virus* (live attenuated) of the following strains**:

(A/California/7/2009, MEDI 228029)
A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like strain
(A/Texas/50/2012, MEDI 237514)
B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like strain
(B/Massachusetts/2/2012, MEDI 237751)

So if I'm reading it correctly that's 6 different viruses in the one go.

The leaflet also says this:

For children who have not previously been vaccinated against seasonal influenza, a second dose should be given after an interval of at least 4 weeks.

So that would be two lots of vaccine in 4weeks. Now I know there are a few vaccines that require 2 doses but my concern is if its 6 strains of 'live' virus then effectively its 12 small doses of flu within a month. From past experience from DD getting her routine vaccinations (MMR and the like) she always gets a high to very high temp for 2-3 days after and takes a week or two afterwards to get back to her old self (ie. not grumpy, sleepy, clingy, whiney and generally out of sorts) If follows the same trend then she will be like this for 2 weeks, better for 2 weeks then back again for another 2 weeks.

But all that said the % results of protection look really good. I had a bad flu once when I was 10 and I would hate for her to go through that. I know the decision is mine to make but I just wanted to see what most people are doing and why they are/ are not getting this vaccine.

I'm not looking for a heated debate on vaccination in general, just opinions on this particular one.


Join the discussion

Join the discussion


Register now