According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the seasonal flu vaccine is the number one way to protect yourself from flu. Flu Mist is a live attenuated seasonal flu vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nasal administration. Flu Mist has short-term, intermediate and long-term effects.
Short Term Effects: Adverse Reactions to Vaccine
According to MedImmune, the manufacturer of Flu Mist, over 10 percent of people who have been treated with Flu Mist complain of runny nose, nasal congestion or sore throat. In children between two and six, approximately 10 percent develop fevers over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, these symptoms are mild and resolve completely within one or two days.
Flu Mist may contain trace amounts of chicken eggs, gelatin and the antibiotic gentamicin. People who are allergic to these ingredients should share this information with their health care providers prior to receiving Flu Mist, due to the risk of allergic reaction.
Intermediate Effects: Immunity to Seasonal Influenza
According to the CDC, there is usually an interval of a few weeks between when the vaccine is administered and when it begins to confer immunity. The effectiveness of vaccines like Flu Mist in preventing flu also depends on the match between the vaccine virus and circulating viruses. In years where the two are well matched, vaccination can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent. Compared to inactivated-virus flu vaccines, vaccination with Flu Mist probably confers a more robust immunity to seasonal flu, although specific data is lacking.
Long-Term Effects: Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease is an extremely rare complication of influenza vaccine which often develops several months after getting the vaccine. One in 1 million people who received a swine flu vaccine in 1976 and seasonal flu vaccine between 1992 and 1994 developed Guillian-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease of the peripheral nerves. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, initial symptoms of GBS include muscle weakness and tingling that begins in the legs and progressively moves up the body. In severe cases, a person may be completely paralyzed and require a ventilator to breathe, due to paralysis of the diaphragm. In 90 percent of patients, symptoms peak at approximately three weeks. Between five percent and six percent of people with GBS die. Among those who survive, recovery is prolonged; 30 percent of patients still report residual weakness three years after infection. No cases have been associated with Flu Mist, however all FDA-approved influenza vaccines are required to note the risk of Guillian-Barre Syndrome in their product literature.
