Flu nasal spray questions

[Whitehousecottage]

I know I was stupid, but I didn’t get my DS (7) the nasal flu spray and I never have. Under the current circumstances and the fact we had really bad flu in January I have decided to take him to the GP and have it done. I didn’t consent when the school sent the email out in October (I know I’m stupid) I’m having a change of heart since reading up on it all and kind of realising my mistakes.
FYI he’s had other jabs. I just wasn’t convinced on flu.

He’s going on Monday for the nasal spray. I’ve got a couple of questions, if people could answer without being nasty or sarcastic I would appreciate it, I have autism and I struggle with knowing what’s real and what isn’t. I find it difficult with lots of opposing info coming at me.

1. Are there any common side effects? He has his school Christmas party the following day and I don’t want him to miss it. Plus we are going to my parents for Christmas a week after he’s having it done.

2. Does it give them a ‘live’ dose of the flu? If so, can it spread to myself or my partner through droplets? we all had the flu in January and it was horrendously awful.

3. This is my biggest concern - if he is to catch flu just before he gets the spray (e.g. it’s in his system but hasn’t yet shown symptoms) or he catches it a few days after he’s had the spray, before protection starts…will that trigger a worse case of flu for him because he’s had a mini version already put into his body?

Sorry if these questions sound strange or weird but I genuinely want to know.

I think the first time mine had it they had a slight fever but were fine in themselves (but that might have been something else at the same time, they were nursery age so caught loads of things), no reaction to any since.
I think it's live but very weak, you shouldn't catch anything of note from it.

1. common side effects are headache, runny nose, low grade fever, loss of appetite

2. the flu virus is attenuated which means it’s very much weakened - only enough to trigger immune response. The risk of catching flu from shedding is so low it’s classed as theoretical.

3. the nasal vaccine works very quickly as it’s absorbed quickly through intranasal route - starts to work within 10 days. He wouldn’t acquire a “worse” version of flu after having had the vaccine.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/child-flu-vaccine/

hope this helps ☺️

I think I get worried as I struggle when he has a high fever and I feel like with this vaccine I’m ‘giving’ him symptoms when he’s perfectly well in himself at the moment.
I just hope he’s one of those who doesn’t get a fever or flu like symptoms. I don’t mind a sniffle or whatever. But a raging fever is frightening to me. I guess I’ve always been hesitant because of this, worry of him reacting badly.
And I know it’s only a school Christmas party but I don’t want him to miss it either.

I think it would be perfectly acceptable to give him some age appropriate Calpol when you get home from the doctors and maybe the morning of the party if you feel like you want to. It won’t do him any harm and will help with any discomfort from low grade fever triggered by his vaccination.

and well done for getting him vaccinated. X

All three of mine have had the spray. One had zero side effects, one suddenly said he was unwell (about six hours later) but recovered within an hour. The other suddenly went pale (again about 6ish hours later) and lay on the settee for a bit. Then his colour came back and he was fine. All three fine the next day

My sons had his two years in a row at school and not had a single symptom or even off evening - please don’t worry they’re so worth it to prevent the flu!

The fever mine got was that she felt a bit warm to me and was warmer than normal but didn't go over 37.something and was fine to go to nursery. I told them and they said it was common and they'd keep an eye if she tipped over 38 I'd have to pick her up. She didn't and was happy all day. Definitely no raging fever.

DD was mildly unwell the first couple of times. Then a bit snotty for 5-10 mins after and perfectly fine.

This year for the first time she missed it and it was due to go to the catch up session, but caught flu instead. Knocked off her feet for a week.

My two DDs have never had any side effects from the spray, and come to think of it, their friends have all been fine too. Well done on getting it done OP. I read a story earlier about a little girl with flu induced encephalitis, and her dad was really regretting that she hadn’t had the spray.

Mine have had it for the first time this year (secondary school and upper juniors). Niether seemed to have any reaction tbh.

@Whitehousecottageany side effects will be comparatively minor to community acquired flu. My daughter had it in October (she’s 14) and was completely floored by it. She received her vaccine in November. She’s been vaccinated every year since she was five and never had any side effects.

My son is 15, and has been having the nasal flu spray every year since he became eligible. There has been occasions when he's had the sniffles afterwards or a slight temperature or tired but mainly he's always been fine. It's one of those things, like any vaccine, until your child has it, you don't know how they'll be.

DD (9) has always been had hers, never any side effects. She had the injection instead this year though because she’s decided she prefers needles to the nasal spray.

If you want him to get protected (if you really must) take him to the GP and ask for the proper injection. IMO kids do not need the flu jab. I wish the NHS would be honest and admit it's to reduce the risk of elderly people getting it and bedblocking the NHS>

Respectfully I would disagree, DD had it every year except this one and caught flu before she was due to get it at the catch up clinic.

It absolutely floored her. Temp over 41 degrees (lowered with paracetamol and ibuprofen) very little appetite. Missed a week of school at a key time for GCSES so behind in coursework and missed an assessment. She's still feeling rough a few weeks later and dropped weight she can't afford to loose (super skinny).

Then I got it. Thankfully her friends and elderly relatives didn't get it because they had the spray / jab.

Isn't that common knowledge? I don't think the NHS hides that from us.

The very young, old and immunocompromised can get seriously ill with flu. School aged kids will mostly be ok, but spread it around a lot. Vaccination works less well in older people and immunocompromised people because their immune systems aren't working at their best, hence the need to vax kids to reduce spread

Preventing spread by vaccination of school aged kids is a public health measure designed to protect us all. If the hospital is full to bursting with the very young, old and immunocompromised what happens to you or your family when you need health care for an accident or illness?

Also bed blocking? These people would be quite poorly and need to be in hospital. Not physically well people waiting for a care package after a fall or similar

And OP, the nasal spray is perfectly fine. No need for your DC to have a jab. My DC have had it every year, they sometimes have a runny nose or a headache. The nasal spray is a weakened version of the virus that isn't a risk to a healthy person. There's a theoretical risk to immunosuppressed people from shedding of the vaccine. Having the vaccine won't make your DC get a worse dose of the flu if they are infected in the couple of days after vaccination. Get them vaccinated now and you'll not be worried about them being poorly for Christmas

1. my daughter is 6 and has had every flu vaccine that has been offered. She has had absolutely zero side effects. No runny nose, fever, nothing.
2. it is a live vaccine but (and I don’t know the science) we have never caught it
3. again, I am not a doctor or a scientist so don’t know the ins and outs but I wouldn’t imagine it would make him any worse. Flu is grim anyway so I wouldn’t worry about it.

In summary- get the vaccine! Don’t worry about it and don’t listen to anything you read on social media about it. He’ll be absolutely fine I’m sure.

Children are less likely to be seriously ill with flu but it is possible.
Also they could be off school and missing several days of education (and parties) and yes they could bring it home and kill granny

Neither of mine have ever had a side effect in all their collective 18 years of getting it done since nursery.

It’s a live vaccine, but the only risk of ‘viral shedding’ is to people who are severely immunocompromised. I am immunocompromised due to cancer treatment and both mine still got it done (with no ill effects for me).

No, it will not worsen a case of the flu if transmitted just around the time of immunisation, but it may offer partial protection, if not full.

(I’m a PhD level scientist with a background in infectious diseases btw).

Would you prefer that he gets flu then?

DS1 had a runny nose the next day his first couple of times, and since then nothing at all. DS2 no side effects ever. Age 11 and 8 and been getting it since they were eligible at 3 or so.

This strain of flu is affecting children and young people more than older people.

Where did the op suggest this? She's simply asked some questions to get information and reassurance.
She also said she's autistic and finds it hard to judge sarcasm and process information. Your post is doubly unhelpful and might prevent her from getting the info she needs.

Ds has never had any side effects.
The dr said about keeping him away from very elderly and vulnerable people for a few days because it's a weakened live virus. But fine to be around anyone else