What is influenza virus nasal vaccine?
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. Nasal influenza virus 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.
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What are the possible side effects of influenza virus nasal vaccine?
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 this vaccine. If you
ever need to receive another nasal influenza virus vaccine 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
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high fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.
Less serious side effects include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is given as a nasal spray into each nostril. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this vaccine. You should receive a flu vaccine every year. Your immunity will gradually decrease over the 12 months after you receive the influenza virus vaccine. Children receiving this vaccine may need a repeat dose two months after receiving the first vaccine. The influenza virus vaccine is usually given in October or November. Some people may need to have their vaccines earlier or later. Follow your doctor's instructions.
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What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?
The nasal influenza virus vaccine 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 nasal influenza virus vaccine, 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.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Since influenza virus 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.
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What other drugs will affect influenza virus nasal vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, 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).
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Influenza virus vaccine, live, has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. The manufacturer considers the use of influenza virus vaccine, live, to be contraindicated during pregnancy.
There are no data on the excretion of influenza virus vaccine, live, into human milk. However, since some viruses are excreted into human milk, the possibility of shedding of vaccine virus, and the close proximity of nursing infant and mother the manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering influenza virus vaccine, live, to nursing women.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Hypersensitivity or history of anaphylactic reaction to egg or egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin, arginine, or any other vaccine component.
- Previous life-threatening reaction to any influenza vaccine.
- Children and adolescents 2–17 years of age receiving aspirin. Use of aspirin for wild-type influenza infection associated with Reye's syndrome.
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What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?
Do not receive this vaccine 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
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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