United States: Since the spray flu vaccine has recently been given clearance for home use by the U.S Food and Drug Administration, how do you know which one is suitable for you or your family?
One expert gives feedback about the spray’s effectiveness and how you can know whether FluMist will be your best defense against flu bugs. More and more, it is essential to realize that the spray will not be permitted for domestic application until the fall of 2025, as reported by HealthDay.
FluMist was approved for home usage in September by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. Currently, the spray application procedure is possible only with the help of healthcare providers.
So, exactly what is FluMist?
It is a nasal spray that is a live attenuated influenza vaccine for the three just principal vaccine strains. It is recommended for children under two years and to patients up to the age of 49 years.
“Instead of an injection, there is a live vaccine that is sprayed into the nose to help provide a good immune response to the respiratory system against influenza”, said Dr. Pedro Piedra, professor of molecular virology and microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Piedra adds that the FluMist is suitable for healthy adults and children, as well as for people who have a fear of needles.
“The immune response is good for both children and adults. Like all vaccines, there could be a local reaction for a small percentage of people – this could be a mild cold, a runny nose, or soreness in the throat because the virus is alive and replicates in the nasal passage,” he said in a Baylor news release.
Effectiveness and Safety Considerations
About efficiency, Piedra stated that FluMist is equally effective as the inactivated influenza vaccine for the population group of children for whom it is designed. However, the spray does not apply to immunodeficiency or immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, the spray could lead to wheezing after the administration to children under 5, especially those with a history of wheezing.
“Also, older children and adults with significant lung disease should speak with their physician to see if there is an alternative vaccine that will not predispose them to a potential wheezing episode,” Piedra noted. “You can have a flu shot that will not impact the respiratory tree; the live vaccine spray might.”
Precautions for FluMist Users
If you are planning to get FluMist nasal spray, you are advised not to use any antiviral medication for at least two weeks because the weakened flu virus will react to it and eliminate any effectiveness of the vaccine.
Additionally, aspirin is not given to children shortly after vaccination because of Reye’s syndrome, which affects the liver or the brain after the flu. As with other vaccines, FluMist is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine.
Future Flexibility in Vaccine Timing
When FluMist is free in your home use next fall, you will be able to determine when you wish to take the vaccine, as reported by HealthDay.
“You can dictate the timing of the vaccine without truly affecting much of your routine,” Piedra said.
He did state, though, that certain precautions should be observed in case FluMist is used at the home of a person who is immunodeficient. Finally, if one is still in doubt whether to use the spray or not, consult the doctor, he advised.