Toddler bad wheezing and fever - from flu vaccine?

[10FingersOnTheFender]

DS (almost 3) had his flu vaccine on Tuesday morning. He didn't seem ill beforehand.
Since then, he's not been well. He's had a fever (mostly around 38, but now 38.5) and he's been wheezing a lot.
I've never really heard him wheeze before.
Could this be due to the flu vaccine?
I'm a bit worried about the wheezing.

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#flu Listed as a side effect so yes, it could be.

You should report the side effects yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

and take your child to the doctor.

[10FingersOnTheFender]

ok. Thanks. Curious to know from others if the side effects can last as long as 48 hours with no diminution.

I've booked a dr's appointment for him mid-afternoon. My mum is bringing him home from nursery. I'm sort of reluctant to take him out in the cold again to the dr's. But it can't be helped.

[Rainbowandraindrops67]

It’s more likely he has an unrelated virus

[10FingersOnTheFender]

As it happens, the dr did say he thought it was unlikely to be linked to the vaccine....

Rainbow what makes you think the same?

[Rainbowandraindrops67]

Flu vaccines are very safe and reactions are uncommon

Viruses are abundant and practically every child is ill at the moment

[Rainbowandraindrops67]

So just going on probabilities

[DoItAgainBob]

There's a horrible chest infection/cold going round. Mine have both had temps all week with it.

[10FingersOnTheFender]

I suppose it seemed too much of a coincidence that the reason they don't give the vaccine to the under 2s is because of risk of wheezing (I believe)....

...and DS has never wheezed before

[Rainbowandraindrops67]

I’ve not heard that and don’t believe it’s true
My one year old had the flu jab and was perfectly fine.
Are you generally anti vax? Serious side effects from vaccines really are very rare

[Rainbowandraindrops67]

And they often start wheezing between 1-2 years - viral wheeze - most of them grow out of it

[LoveDeathPrizes]

Bronchiolitus is big at this time of year Op, especially for his age group. Could it be that?

[drinkswineoutofamug]

The flu vaccine as far as I know isn't the live virus . You child probably has the same coughs , colds and sniffles that are doing the rounds at the moment. Hope they feel better soon but please don't think that the flu jab/spray will give you the flu. Because it doesn't

[kyz1981]

The nasal flu vaccine is live, and one of the common side effects is wheezing which is why my daughter has the inactive injection.
However as it is a live vaccine she also gets a reaction most years when it’s given at school due to the shedding, My daughters chest consultant said it’s quite common to react but usually all you will get is a mild cold.

[nocoolnamesleft]

It could have been the vaccine...but as far as I can tell every small child at the moment is either recovering from a chesty episode, has a chesty episode, or is just starting to come down with a chesty episode. It's a bad winter.

[10FingersOnTheFender]

Thanks all. No, am not generally anti-vax (he's had all the vaccines he's meant to have had so far).

It's just the wheezing that I've found difficult to feel relaxed about... he's had loads of infections (well, I guess a normal amount for a child who's been at nursery since 10 months). BUT he's never ever wheezed before. So to me this is unusual and I haven't got used to dealing with it

[Zoesweet]

It's one indication that the vaccine works or you dc responds to it. Now if it continues for 2 to 3 days I would say report it to your doctor and have your dc check just to be sure.

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

@Rainbowandraindrops67
From the NHS website.. www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/child-flu-vaccine-questions-and-answers.aspx#Why

Why can't under-twos have a nasal spray flu vaccine?
The nasal spray vaccine isn't licensed for children younger than two because it can be linked to wheezing in children this age.

Wheezing is an observed reaction. It is important to be open to the possibility that it is a reaction so that one can be prepared in future years and make a risk based assessment as to whether to continue to give the nasal flu vaccine or possibly to have the jab instead.

While I completely agree with your statement that serious side effects from vaccines are rare, side effects are common and should not be dismissed.

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/29109
Very common
(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
runny or stuffy nose
reduced appetite
weakness
headache
Common
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
fever
muscle aches
Uncommon
(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
rash
nose bleed
allergic reactions

Fluenz is marketed in the US as Flumist (same vaccine) and here is more information regarding the wheezing, which is absent from the information on the Fluenz page.

Who should not get FluMist Quadrivalent?
You should not get FluMist Quadrivalent if you have a severe allergy to eggs or to any inactive ingredient in the vaccine; have ever had a life-threatening reaction to influenza vaccinations; or are 2 through 17 years old and take aspirin or medicines containing aspirin – children or adolescents should not be given aspirin for 4 weeks after getting FluMist Quadrivalent unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.

Children under 2 years old have an increased risk of wheezing (difficulty with breathing) after getting FluMist Quadrivalent.

Who may not be able to get FluMist Quadrivalent?
Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child are currently wheezing; have a history of wheezing if under 5 years old; have had Guillain-Barré syndrome; have a weakened immune system or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system; have problems with your heart, kidneys, or lungs; have diabetes; are pregnant or nursing; or are taking Tamiflu®, Relenza®, amantadine, or rimantadine.