Flu Shot vs. Flu Mist

We have received many questions about the difference between the H1N1 flu shot and the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine and who can receive each type of vaccine.

 

The H1N1 flu shot in an inactivated vaccine, which means that it contains killed virus. The shot is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women. You can find more information on the H1N1 flu shot at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-inact-h1n1.pdf.

 

The H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine is made with live, weakened viruses that do not cause the flu. The spray is sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine." The spray is approved for use in healthy people 2 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. You can find more information the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-laiv-h1n1.pdf .

 

The same manufacturers who produce seasonal vaccines are producing the H1N1 vaccines this season. Both the H1N1 flu shot and H1N1 nasal spray are being made in the same way that the seasonal shot and spray are made.  

 

Please remember that while we encourage all residents to utilize the comments section on this blog, DPH will no longer be able to respond to specific questions and comments.

Comments

[lainee]

i received the flumist and I was sick within 24 hours. severe chills, sore throat, aches pains , running nose, cough. Its been 3 days and Im still sick. now my 7 year old is coming down with it. its the first time in my life I have ever gotten a flu shot of any kind or a mist. I will NEVER do it again --------DPH RESPONDS: You cannot get influenza from a flu shot. The symptoms you are describing are probably due to some other sort of infection. We tend to get the flu shot at the time of year when there are other viruses circulating, which can make you feel as if you have the flu.

[Megan]

I'm a healthy person who very rarely gets sick, I got the H1n1 flumist vaccine......2 1/2 days later I woke up with a sore throat....as the day progressed it turned into sneezing and coughing....over night it turned into violent coughs and vomiting.....then a fever...body aches...Swine flu! 3 days later I'm still in bed very sick so my recomendation is to avoid getting the vaccine. -------------------------------------- DPH RESPONDS: You cannot get influenza from a flu shot. If you were not feeling well following your shot, you probably had some other sort of infection. We tend to get the flu shot at the time of year when there are other viruses circulating which can make you feel as if you have the flu.

[Angry American]

I would like to say that the doctors are NOT determining who should get the vaccine, but the government is telling the doctors who gets the vaccine (100% true, look it up). The government is not vaccinating those who need the vaccine the most, and the government is buying lesser-quality vaccines that contain a form of mercury in them (mercury is hazardous). Do we see how bad it is when the government controls our health care? It is impossible to find a vaccine and the vaccines are not available to all doctors! A pediatrician's office near us was only given the Flumist, which can only be given to healthy children and older. A pediatricians office primarily sees infants, what is the point of having Flumist there and not the injectable vaccine? Do we now understand why we CANNOT let the government control our health care? Soon, America, the literally best place in the world for health care, will be socialized medicine and the government will select who gets treated and the doctors will become lazy and medical advancements will cease because of no competition (the government selects your doctor).

[Michelle]

I have a 22 month year old and 15 year old that just got the H1N1 vaccine last week (the shot). I was under the impression that the small children would get the nasal spray but nurse said the shot is better because its not a live virus. My children are both doing fine and im glad they got it but when I origially went in a month ago to get it the Dr. put us on a waiting list. They only recieved the vaccine for adults. I couldnt understand that because I thought the children were high risk. My children were put on a waiting list while healthy adults were getting vaccinated. That makes no sense at all.

[D. Aronson]

My four children just received the H1N1 flumist after being on a long waiting list. After questioning their doctor as to why my sister was able to have her kids vaccinated with the flu shot for H1N1 at her pediatrician's even though her kids are not among the high risk. My doctor's response was that they have a high percentage of high risk patients compared to other pediatricians...does this mean I should change pediatricians so I have a better chance of getting my kids immunized in the future since the distribution of the shot version doesn't appear to only be going to high risk patients as advertised in the media and through government sights?

[B.Banks]

Perhaps I am just fortunate in that I have a good doctor (Dedham Medical Associates) but I have been able to get the first vaccines for my kids, ages 7 and 9, within the past week. I had to be diligent in checking their website daily for updates, and the clinics did fill up quickly. My 9 year old has asthma, and thus cannot have the flumist, which was available first. But the doctor's office prioritized the first injectable vaccines for their most vulnerable patients, and were good about making those who could wait or get the flumist take a step back so the most at risk kids could get dosed first. People really should talk to their doctors early and often, check their websites if they have them, and don't be discouraged. More vaccine is trickling in daily, and your persistance will be paid off.

[Mary]

I'm frustrated because I haven't been able to get the vaccine for my children, ages 8 and 11. They both have mild persistent asthma. I would expect them to be a part of the priority groups, but our pediatrician said no. I'm so afraid of them getting sick. They've had the seasonal flu vaccination. Sending them to school and to their activities is making me nervous. I'm very angry with the MDs, manufacturers of the vaccine. I feel we've been let down.

[C]

D, I too am in the same situation. I am 5 months pregnant and attend law school in downtown Boston. I am scared to go to class when I know full well that my classmates would attend class even if their legs had just been run over so I doubt they'd stay home for the flu. In case you find this helpful, my OB finally called me back and told me that women who are over 24 weeks pregnant and/or have some chronic illness such as diabetes are receiving the vaccine in their office as a priorty group. I guess they don't have enough for just pregnant women, so we're being sub-prioritized for now.

[Maria]

The H1N1 flu shot is not going to avaliable for healthy children?, not even if we wait until November?

[Frustrated Mom]

Why can't pregnant women get the flumist? I understand that I would be exposing an immunologically immature fetus to the virus but wouldn't it be better to get the Flumist than not get vaccinated at all? What's safer, the FluMist or an actual H1N1 infection? If it's the latter then why should I even get the vaccine at all? I just ask because it seems to be so much easier to get a hold of the FluMist version rather than the shot.

[D]

There does not seem to be any procedure in place to identify high risk persons. I am four months pregnant, have been reading over and over again how important it is for pregnant women to get the vaccination and yet there seem to be no steps in place to see to it that priority groups are notified when the vaccine is available. Even my Dr's office gave me the royal brush-off (no supply, don't know when it will be in, you might get an email when it is). What do I need to do to ensure that I get the vaccine when a limited supply becomes available? How do I know I won't be edged out or get the news too late - missing a small window of opportunity to get one of the limited doses? This is Boston and I take the "T", the commuter rail, and a commuter bus every day exposing me to hundreds and hundreds of people, many of whom could already carry H1N1 - it's nearly November! I am more than a little frustrated - especially when I see photos of people in H1N1 flu clinic lines in other parts of the country. Where is ours? Why wasn't the supply evenly distributed across the country?

[WILLIAM NICKERSON]

I would like to know the procedure I should follow to be identified as a high risk person what I should do to make sure I receive the vacine as soon as it is available. I have only 1 lung due to lung cancer surgery and am diabetic.