What is FluMist?

FluMist

Generic Name: influenza virus vaccine (nasal) (in floo ENZ a VYE rus VAK seen)
Brand Names: FluMist

What is FluMist?

FluMist is used to prevent infection caused by influenza virus. FluMist is redeveloped each year to contain specific strains of activated (live) flu virus that are recommended by public health officials for that year.

FluMist is a "live virus" vaccine. Influenza virus vaccine is also available in an injectable form, which is a "killed virus" vaccine.

FluMist works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus, which helps your body to develop immunity to the disease. FluMist will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

FluMist is for use in children and adults, between the ages of 2 and 49 years old.

Becoming infected with influenza (commonly known as "the flu") is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. Like any medicine, FluMist can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Like any vaccine, FluMist may not provide protection from disease in every person. FluMist will not prevent illness caused by avian flu ("bird flu").

Important information about FluMist

FluMist is a "live virus" vaccine. Influenza virus vaccine is also available in an injectable form, which is a "killed virus" vaccine. This medication guide addresses only the nasal spray form of this vaccine.

For at least 21 days after receiving FluMist, avoid close contact with anyone who has a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by certain medicines such as steroids, cancer chemotherapy, or radiation treatment. A person with a weak immune system can become ill if they have close contact with you after you have recently received a an influenza vaccine.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving FluMist.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after using FluMist. If you ever have to receive another influenza virus vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first vaccine caused any side effects.

Like any vaccine, FluMist may not provide protection from disease in every person. FluMist will not prevent illness caused by avian flu ("bird flu").

Becoming infected with influenza (commonly known as "the flu") is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. Like any medicine, FluMist can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Influenza virus (commonly known as "the flu") is a serious disease caused by a virus. Influenza virus can spread from one person to another through small droplets of saliva that are expelled into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be passed through contact with objects the infected person has touched, such as a door handle or other surfaces.

Before using FluMist

Do not use FluMist if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine, or if you have:

• a history of Guillain-Barr� syndrome (especially if you had it within 6 weeks after having a flu vaccine);
• a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by taking certain medicines such as steroids;
• if someone in your household has a weak immune system;
• if you are under 18 years old and have recently taken aspirin or other similar medicines such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others; or
• if you are allergic to chicken or egg products.

Before receiving FluMist, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or:

• asthma or other lung disorder;
• a history of seizures;
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• if you have used a flu medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) within the past 48 hours.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving FluMist.

Vaccines may be harmful to an unborn baby and generally should not be given to a pregnant woman. However, not vaccinating the mother could be more harmful to the baby if the mother becomes infected with a disease that this vaccine could prevent. Your doctor will decide whether you should receive FluMist, especially if you have a high risk of infection with influenza. It is not known whether FluMist passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. FluMist should not be given to anyone younger than 2 or older than 49 years of age.

How is FluMist given?

FluMist is given as a nasal spray into each nostril. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you FluMist.

You should receive a flu vaccine every year. Your immunity will gradually decrease over the 12 months after you use the FluMist vaccine. Children receiving FluMist may need a repeat dose two months after receiving the first vaccine.

FluMist is usually given in October or November. Some people may need to have their vaccines earlier or later. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the vaccine is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to take.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since FluMist is usually given only one time per year, you will most likely not be on a dosing schedule. Call your doctor if you forget to receive your yearly vaccination in October or November.

If your child misses a booster dose of FluMist, call your doctor for instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of FluMist is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after receiving FluMist?

For at least 21 days after receiving FluMist, avoid close contact with anyone who has a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by certain medicines such as steroids, cancer chemotherapy, or radiation treatment. A person with a weak immune system can become ill if they have close contact with you after you have recently received a an influenza vaccine.

For at least 2 weeks after receiving FluMist, avoid using antiviral medications that are normally used to treat flu symptoms, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza).

FluMist side effects

Nasal influenza virus (live virus) vaccine may cause you to have mild flu-like symptoms. However, you may have flu-like symptoms at any time during flu season that may be caused by strains of influenza virus that are not contained in the vaccine.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first dose. Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving FluMist. If you ever need to receive another FluMist in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first vaccine caused any side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe weakness or unusual feeling in your arms and legs (may occur 2 to 4 weeks after you receive the vaccine); or
• high fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.

Less serious FluMist side effects include:

• low fever, chills;
• runny or stuffy nose;
• sore throat, cough;
• headache;
• feeling tired or irritable;
• vomiting; or
• muscle pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

See also: Flumist side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect FluMist?

Before receiving FluMist, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

• an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
• medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
• medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can affect FluMist. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you have received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.