Nasal flu vaccine and asthma?? Worried

anonymousflowergirl · 2025-10-10T10:13:43+00:00

Just after some advice please My son is 3, he has a brown and blue inhaler and just a week ago recieved the nasal flu vaccine. hes had cold symptoms for from a couple of days after and now last few days his asthma has been playing up. after doing research I can see the advice is not to give the nasal flu vaccine to children with asthma.. no doctors have ever told me this so now I feel extremely guilty that I have give him this. has anyone else done this? Will his asthma calm down or would you take your child to a doctor? I’m not sure what they can do now.. im hoping symptoms just calm? im annoyed no one has ever brought this up and im now worried sick that ive caused his asthma flare up and i dont quite know what to do 🙁

MrsBeltane · 10/10/2025 11:26

The nasal flu shouldn't be given to children with asthma when they are experiencing a flare up of their condition. If the child is well at the time of the vaccine, it should be given. If it's your child's first dose ever, they will need a second dose in 4 weeks.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 11:28

MrsBeltane · 10/10/2025 11:26

The nasal flu shouldn't be given to children with asthma when they are experiencing a flare up of their condition. If the child is well at the time of the vaccine, it should be given. If it's your child's first dose ever, they will need a second dose in 4 weeks.

Oh okay, no he wasn’t having a flare up but I did have a inclin a cold may be brewing which I did mention as I had a cold, but they said it’s fine to go ahead..
he had the flu vaccine last year and was fine but it’s only been the last year he’s been experiencing asthma and on inhalers

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Lemonade2011 · 10/10/2025 11:35

It’s October pretty much every child that comes in to my clinic for the flu vaccine has a cold. it’s that time of year, so likely he might have had some side effects but was probably brewing a cold anyway.

Our guidelines say if you’ve needed blue inhaler in last 7 days or are on oral steroids for a flare up to postpone but we DO give to asthmatics as they are a group we like to make sure are vaccinated. My own son has asthma and has had quite a few winter admissions with asthma flare ups, I’m not sure what you’re been reading but we send info out with our appointment letters and on it should be nhs website with more information - we use nhs inform in Scotland. My own son is choked with the cold just now thankfully hasn’t set his asthma off.

Lemonade2011 · 10/10/2025 11:38

We also only give a second dose of the IM vaccine not the nasal if it’s the first dose? Asthma isn’t a reason we’d give the IM Dose alone unless it was directed by a gp/consultant for a child with serious respiratory problems or immune issues…

MrsBeltane · 10/10/2025 11:50

Lemonade2011 · 10/10/2025 11:38

We also only give a second dose of the IM vaccine not the nasal if it’s the first dose? Asthma isn’t a reason we’d give the IM Dose alone unless it was directed by a gp/consultant for a child with serious respiratory problems or immune issues…

2 - 9 year olds with asthma should have a second dose of nasal flu if the initial dose is their first one ever.

Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 11:50

My asthmatic child has had the nasal spray for 6 years with no issues. October is however the worst time for their asthma especially if they get a cold. My asthma flares up at this time of year too.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 11:51

That makes sense, thank you. Glad to hear that they still do give children with asthma the nasal vaccine. What do you do when your son has an asthma flare up? It’s all new to me and I have no idea other than to give the blue inhaler? I’m glad to hear his cold hasn’t set his asthma.

What is an IM vaccine? Does this mean jab? He’s had a nasal vaccine last year, was absolutely fine and the nasal one this year. It’s only been the last year he’s been on inhalers as he was getting reoccurring croup every 2 months ish which was requiring steroids. Which thankfully has improved massively since the inhalers.

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Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 11:52

MrsBeltane · 10/10/2025 11:50

2 - 9 year olds with asthma should have a second dose of nasal flu if the initial dose is their first one ever.

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Thank you for this.
my son did have the vaccine last year, so this year it’s his second time so won’t need a second nose?

last year he didn’t get two doses though? As he wasn’t on inhalers for asthma so does that mean he needs two doses this time?

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Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 12:03

Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 11:50

My asthmatic child has had the nasal spray for 6 years with no issues. October is however the worst time for their asthma especially if they get a cold. My asthma flares up at this time of year too.

Thank you for this! I didn’t know asthma is worse in October. What do you do when your child’s asthma is worse or have a flare up? I do have a GP appointment later so will ask also. Just feeling a bit clueless and guilty right now! :(

thank you for your reassuring comment x

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Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 12:05

@Lemonade2011That makes sense, thank you. Glad to hear that they still do give children with asthma the nasal vaccine. What do you do when your son has an asthma flare up? It’s all new to me and I have no idea other than to give the blue inhaler? I’m glad to hear his cold hasn’t set his asthma.
What is an IM vaccine? Does this mean jab? He’s had a nasal vaccine last year, was absolutely fine and the nasal one this year. It’s only been the last year he’s been on inhalers as he was getting reoccurring croup every 2 months ish which was requiring steroids. Which thankfully has improved massively since the inhalers.

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Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 13:17

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 12:03

Thank you for this! I didn’t know asthma is worse in October. What do you do when your child’s asthma is worse or have a flare up? I do have a GP appointment later so will ask also. Just feeling a bit clueless and guilty right now! :(

thank you for your reassuring comment x

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Definitely talk to the GP about what to do. It's really important to have an action plan and know what you can do and when to get extra help. Generally it's not a concern if more blue inhaler is required with a cold providing it helps and goes back to normal after.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 18:31

Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 13:17

Definitely talk to the GP about what to do. It's really important to have an action plan and know what you can do and when to get extra help. Generally it's not a concern if more blue inhaler is required with a cold providing it helps and goes back to normal after.

Show quote history

Thank you!
I spoke to GP and he actually said to use the brown inhaler twice morning and twice night and the blue inhaler 3 times at night? Idk seemed like strange advice to me.. I’ve only ever been told to use the brown inhaler once morning, once night and blue inhaler as and when needed

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Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 20:13

Not unusual to increase the preventer dose (brown inhaler in your case) in a flair up depending on the initial dose so that seems standard information. I was told to give blue before bed when my child was particularly struggling at bedtime so again not completely unusual advice.

Adjusting what medication is needed is common and is normally part of a management plan and also why asthma needs to be reviewed periodically (my child is reviewed every 6 months and me every year).

Hope the adjustment helps.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 20:45

@Koalaslippersthank you again. It does make sense to increase the steroid one (preventer brown inhaler) during periods of being unwell. I think I just felt a bit sceptical as the whole appointment felt very rushed, in and out within minutes but maybe it was very obvious to the doctor the advice he needed to give. I’m just not very clued up on asthma, I’m trying my best to learn what’s best for my son. It’s such a worry of mine! Thank you again for the help

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Koalaslippers · 10/10/2025 20:51

It is a scary thing to get to grips with but I'm sure you will get there. No one starts out knowing everything and over time you will learn how best to manage it.

IggyAce · 10/10/2025 21:01

I discovered that the nasal flu vaccine triggered my ds asthma, 2 years running approximately 10 days after the vaccine he ended up in crisis. Hospital visit, steroids and then antibiotics, we had pretty bad winters for a few years from age 2-4. He’s 14 now and he has pretty much outgrown his asthma.
He’s always received the flu vaccine i just requested the jab instead of nasal.
I found that doubling his brown inhaler during the winter months really helped.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 21:05

IggyAce · 10/10/2025 21:01

I discovered that the nasal flu vaccine triggered my ds asthma, 2 years running approximately 10 days after the vaccine he ended up in crisis. Hospital visit, steroids and then antibiotics, we had pretty bad winters for a few years from age 2-4. He’s 14 now and he has pretty much outgrown his asthma.
He’s always received the flu vaccine i just requested the jab instead of nasal.
I found that doubling his brown inhaler during the winter months really helped.

Sorry to hear this 😢 so scary.. what were his first symptoms do you remember? My son is asleep atm and my anxiety is genuinely through the roof. 3 nights ago he had his barky cough he gets when he woke up, the next night absolutely fine, but then last night the barky cough again, not the worst he’s had it but the unpredictability has me anxious as anything right now.

not to wish time away but I’ll be glad if he grows out of it, it’s such a worry. I’m glad I now have the advice of doubling up in the winter months and I’ll be asking about the jab next year rather than the nasal vaccine. Thank you!

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IggyAce · 10/10/2025 21:24

@anonymousflowergirl not 100% sure because it’s over 10 years ago now but I believe he started with a cold and then he had trouble breathing. It was a scary time and I felt like a frequent flyer at A&E and our gps. Fingers crossed it’s just a cold and your little one recovers quickly, have they briefed you about rescue dose with his blue inhaler? I was told they can have upto 10 puffs, if that doesn’t last 4 hours then they need to see a doctor.

Original poster

anonymousflowergirl · 10/10/2025 21:27

IggyAce · 10/10/2025 21:24

@anonymousflowergirl not 100% sure because it’s over 10 years ago now but I believe he started with a cold and then he had trouble breathing. It was a scary time and I felt like a frequent flyer at A&E and our gps. Fingers crossed it’s just a cold and your little one recovers quickly, have they briefed you about rescue dose with his blue inhaler? I was told they can have upto 10 puffs, if that doesn’t last 4 hours then they need to see a doctor.

Ah bless you. Completely can understand that. My son has had numerous trips up to a&e prior to the inhalers for steroids, terribly terribly scary times. Thank you! I hope so too.
No but I have read that advice online, so I will absolutely consider this if needed. Thank you so much x

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Lemonade2011 · 11/10/2025 10:43

@MrsBeltane my job is as a vaccine staff nurse and we do not give 2 doses of the first nasal flu in Scotland. We go by our pgd where this is not indicated unless there is clinical risk as per the pgd. It may be different elsewhere but the guidance here is certainly one only.

IM is the injection op and your son’s nurse would ask questions to determine which vaccine is suitable. Your GP/practise nurse can show you what to do re worsening of asthma symptoms during flare ups, they are more common in winter time but can happen any time so great idea to be prepared and have a plan. Asthma uk have lots of info too if you want to look.

MrsBeltane · 11/10/2025 14:03

Lemonade2011 · 11/10/2025 10:43

@MrsBeltane my job is as a vaccine staff nurse and we do not give 2 doses of the first nasal flu in Scotland. We go by our pgd where this is not indicated unless there is clinical risk as per the pgd. It may be different elsewhere but the guidance here is certainly one only.

IM is the injection op and your son’s nurse would ask questions to determine which vaccine is suitable. Your GP/practise nurse can show you what to do re worsening of asthma symptoms during flare ups, they are more common in winter time but can happen any time so great idea to be prepared and have a plan. Asthma uk have lots of info too if you want to look.

I'm also a vaccine nurse and we follow the recommendations in the Green Book