What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?
You may not be able to receive this vaccine if you are allergic to eggs, if you or someone in your household has a weak immune system, if you are under 18 years old and have recently taken aspirin, or if you have a history of breathing problems, heart or kidney problems, diabetes, Guillain-Barre syndrome, or severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine.
What is influenza virus nasal vaccine?
Influenza (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.
Influenza virus nasal vaccine (nasal flu vaccine) is used to prevent infection caused by influenza virus. The vaccine is redeveloped each year to contain specific strains of activated (live) flu virus that are recommended by public health officials for that year.
Nasal flu vaccine is a "live virus" vaccine. Influenza virus vaccine is also available as an injection (flu shot) which is a "killed virus" vaccine. This medication guide addresses only the nasal form of this vaccine.
Nasal flu vaccine is for use in adults up to 49 years old, and children who are at least 2 years old.
This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the influenza virus, which helps your body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Becoming infected with influenza is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Like any vaccine, nasal flu vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?
You may not be able to receive this vaccine if you are allergic to eggs, or if you have:
- a history of severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine;
- a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a flu vaccine);
- asthma, wheezing, or other breathing problems;
- heart problems;
- kidney disease;
- a weak immune system (or if someone in your household has a weak immune system);
- diabetes;
- if you have recently taken oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), amantadine (Symmetrel), or rimantadine (Flumadine); or
- if you are under 18 years old and have recently taken aspirin.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
Nasal flu vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy to protect themselves and their newborn babies from flu.
Receiving this vaccine is not expected to be harmful if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Nasal flu vaccine is not approved for anyone younger than 2 years or older than 49 years of age.
How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is given as a nasal spray into each nostril. A healthcare provider will give you this vaccine. A child receiving this vaccine may need a repeat dose 1 month after receiving the first vaccine.
You should receive a flu vaccine every year. Your immunity will gradually decrease over the 12 months after you receive the influenza virus nasal vaccine. Children receiving nasal flu vaccine may need a booster dose one month after receiving the first vaccine.
The nasal flu vaccine is usually given in October or November. Some people may need to have their vaccines earlier or later. Follow your doctor's instructions.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since this vaccine 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 this vaccine, call your doctor for instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid before or after receiving this vaccine?
For at least 21 days after receiving a nasal flu vaccine, avoid close contact with anyone who has a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by caused by using medication such as steroids, immunosuppressants, 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 live vaccine.
For at least 2 weeks after receiving this vaccine, avoid using antiviral flu medications (such as Tamiflu, Relenza, and others.
What are the possible side effects of influenza virus nasal vaccine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
You should not receive a booster dose of this 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 this vaccine. If you ever receive a nasal flu vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first vaccine caused any side effects.
Nasal flu vaccine is a live virus vaccine and 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 other strains of influenza virus.
Call a doctor at once or seek emergency medical attention if the person who has received this vaccine has wheezing or trouble breathing.
Common side effects include:
- fever over 100 degrees F;
- chills;
- runny or stuffy nose;
- sore throat, cough;
- loss of appetite;
- muscle pain;
- headache; or
- feeling tired or irritable.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.
What other drugs will affect influenza virus nasal vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.
Many drugs can affect nasal flu vaccine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about this vaccine. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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