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Original poster

Nasal flu spray for my 3 year old?

34 replies

Fightingtobepositive · 15/10/2024 20:19

My 3 year old came home with a letter to say he’s being offered the nasal flu spray. I’ve read it’s live? What’s everyone’s experiences with it?

OP posts:
DappledOliveGroves · 15/10/2024 20:21

My two year old had hers a few weeks ago. It took a split second, she was absolutely fine, she got a sticker, we came home and no side effects.

A friend of a friend's little boy ended up on life support in PICU a few years ago, from flu, so if we can avoid it, then I shall. I also need to book in for my flu jab.

ahemfem · 15/10/2024 20:23

Absolutely fine but had diarrhoea after it so glad they did it before the weekend so they went back to school on Monday

UpUpUpU · 15/10/2024 20:23

In my experience it is fine. I was immunosuppressed when my toddler had it and I didn't catch anything.

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TeenLifeMum · 15/10/2024 20:23

Quick tickle up the nose and, unlike covid vaccine, the flu once stops them spreading it to relatives/elderly in community. Dc are super spreaders and 1 in 7 people carry flu with no symptoms.

NuffSaidSam · 15/10/2024 20:23

It's absolutely fine.

Sometimes they can feel a little bit unwell the day after, but that's better than flu.

Avie29 · 15/10/2024 20:24

All of my kids have the nasal spray every year (because you know could save their lives 🤔) and never had an symptoms or illness or side effects from it, get the vaccine, its not a nice experience seeing your child hooked up to oxygen and drips xx

bergamotorange · 15/10/2024 20:25

Fine and prevents the spread of flu.

Idontlikeyou · 15/10/2024 20:25

DD started it at 2 and found the whole thing fascinating, she has her 4th one imminently. No side effects whatsoever.

I have seen a young child in hospital with flu, not something I’d ever risk.

Swissrollover · 15/10/2024 20:25

My children have had it annually since about age 2 or 3. They are 13 and 14 now. No flu, no side effects. It helps protect the rest of the family too as flu is horrendous, not just a cold.

SocksShmocks · 15/10/2024 20:28

Mine have both had it many times and no ill effects. But don’t rely on anecdote for that - you can read the patient leaflet here for side effects etc https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15790/pil

In terms of what it’s like to have it - my children said it’s not even a nasal spray more like a ‘puff’ that they could barely feel.

Fluenz Trivalent nasal spray suspension Influenza vaccine (live attenuated, nasal) - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) - (emc)

Fluenz Trivalent nasal spray suspension Influenza vaccine (live attenuated, nasal) - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by AstraZeneca UK Limited

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15790/pil

Calmestofallthechickens · 15/10/2024 20:29

My kids have all the vaccines offered, I’d rather prevent illness than let them suffer, and if a vaccine is licensed and offered on the NHS then it’s been through extensive safety testing and epidemiological risk assessment by people with a far better understanding of immunology than me…

But if you prefer an anecdote, one year both my kids had the flu vaccine, and my husband and I didn’t (we are both healthy non asthmatic adults so not routinely offered). A few weeks later we got flu. It was TERRIBLE - my husband slept for twenty four hours at the start of it, I was like a zombie and kept having to have a sit down because I was feeling too ill to stand up for more than about 10 minutes. The kids were fine, barely a sniffle. So I take from that that it is very effective!

Laszlomydarling · 15/10/2024 20:29

Our experience is we are a family who always have a flu jab/spray and never get the flu. Also feel confident we are doing the right thing to keep elderly/babies safe also. We are extremely lucky in this country to be offered these free, life saving vaccines.

Mummyboy1 · 15/10/2024 20:29

My near 3 year old had it a few weeks ago. It was very quick, he didn't even realise what was happening! He also had no symptoms afterwards.

Covidwoes · 15/10/2024 20:32

Both DDs have it every year. Neither of them have ever had any side effects. It's an absolute no brainer for us!

WooWooWinnie · 15/10/2024 20:32

My 2 year old had it a couple of weeks ago. She was very happy to get a sticker from “the lady that checked my nose”. We had practiced sniffing so she knew what to do and wasn’t too perturbed! She had a bit of a runny nose and a slight temperature that evening, but otherwise fine.

ahemfem · 15/10/2024 20:33

If you have a problem with the gelatine I think they can still offer you the egg injection instead but don't quote me on that

IggyAce · 15/10/2024 20:36

My ds is asthmatic and the nasal vaccine has led to an asthma attack so he receives his vaccine via jab.

stichguru · 15/10/2024 20:38

My boy is 11 - has had the nasal flu vaccine every year since 3. Never a problem. To be fair, unless you have been given specific medical advice not to give it to him, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Also, if he doesn't have it, I'd be keeping him away from other kids for 2-3 days before visiting people who are elderly or medically fragile over winter. Flu can be present in the system for that time before symptoms appear, so if he doesn't have the jab and mixes with lots of kids (one or two of which also probably won't have had the jab) there's a good chance he could be carrying it at any time. Even if older people have had the jab, I wouldn't risk mixing with them.

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGGG · 15/10/2024 20:40

My 2 & 3 year old are having it for the first time this year. They won’t have the nasal spray, just the standard injection but I don’t see why you wouldn’t have it done. Unless you’re against vaccinations in general I guess

Porridgeislife · 15/10/2024 20:42

My 2yo had theirs last week on Thursday. They was a bit grumpy over the weekend and had a few loose-ish poops.

Will get it again next year.

Min133 · 15/10/2024 20:44

Mine was fine with the flu vaccination. With other ones he's been unwell for a day or so afterwards but for some reason he's always been fine with the flu one

shieldmaiden7 · 15/10/2024 20:45

My 2 year old had it last week, faffed a bit for the first nostril but was fine for the second. It was over in a minute. He got a sticker has been fine since. He was so ill at birth so not taking any risks with him.

HaveYouSeenRain · 15/10/2024 20:46

My 3 year old just had it, didn’t even flinch when they gave it to him. Was a tiny bit poorly for the afternoon, one calpol and all fine the next day. My oldest will get it at school. No regrets, the flu is horrible.

HaveYouSeenRain · 15/10/2024 20:47

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGGG · 15/10/2024 20:40

My 2 & 3 year old are having it for the first time this year. They won’t have the nasal spray, just the standard injection but I don’t see why you wouldn’t have it done. Unless you’re against vaccinations in general I guess

Why the injection? I thought children get the spray?

Cheepcheepcheep · 15/10/2024 20:49

As someone who got proper flu (hallucinating, sweating with shakes, sleeping for days on end, no hope of leaving my bed for a lottery win) a couple of years pre kids, I’ve always done it, because I can’t imagine having to see them go through that.