In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are attenuated and cold-adapted, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown to mutate into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) is a new flu vaccine that was licensed in 2003. It is different from the other licensed influenza vaccine (also called the "flu shot") because it contains weakened live influenza viruses instead of killed viruses and is administered by nasal spray instead of injection.

In one large study among children aged 15-85 months, the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV) reduced the chance of influenza illness by 92% compared with placebo. In a study among adults, the participants were not specifically tested for influenza.

People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system. No. The nasal-spray flu vaccine is approved for use only in healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years.

People who are in contact with others with severely weakened immune systems when they are being cared for in a protective environment (for example, people with hematopoietic stem cell transplants), should not get LAIV. People who have contact with others with lesser degrees of immunosuppression (for example, people with diabetes, people with asthma taking corticosteroids, or people infected with HIV) can get LAIV.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains three different live (but weakened) influenza viruses. When the viruses are sprayed into the nose, they stimulate the body's immune system to develop protective antibodies that will prevent infection by naturally occurring influenza viruses. Attenuated means the viruses are weakened and will not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV) can be given to people with minor illnesses (e.g., diarrhea or mild upper respiratory tract infection with or without fever). However, if nasal congestion is present that might limit delivery of the vaccine to the nasal lining, then delaying of vaccination until the nasal congestion is reduced should be considered.

The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing a killed virus) while the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for live attenuated influenza vaccine) contains a weakened live virus. Since the flu shot is made from the killed influenza virus, it can't give you the flu. You could have side effects from the flu shot, however. These might include a sore arm, fever, and body aches, but they'll last for only a day or so and will be much milder than flu symptoms.

Yes -- both in general, and specifically for encephalitis, eczema vaccinatum, and generalized vaccinia (1968 US data).

Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against a specific virus, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new pandemic influenza virus emerges and is identified. Even after a pandemic influenza virus has been identified, it could take at least 6 months to develop, test and produce vaccine.

People of any age can get influenza. Healthy people should get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families from influenza to avoid spreading the virus to others, to avoid missing quality time with their families and to avoid lost time from work and to avoid spreading the virus to others, particularly those who can become very ill from the flu. Influenza is much worse than a cold. Even healthy, young people can become quite ill.

Each year, many laboratories throughout the world, including in the United States, collect flu viruses. Some of these flu viruses are sent to one of four World Health Organization (WHO) reference laboratories, one of which is at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, for detailed testing. These laboratories also test how well antibodies made to the current vaccine react to the circulating virus and new flu viruses.

The development of the live attenuated influenza vaccine has been going on since the 1960s. Prior to licensure, the safety of LAIV was studied in 20 clinical trials. More than 6,000 clinical trial participants were in the approved age range of 5-49 years. In healthy children there were no significant differences between vaccine and placebo recipients. Serious adverse reactions have been identified in less than 1% of LAIV recipients, either children or adults, since licensure.

There are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA] proteins). There are 16 different HA subtypes and 9 different NA subtypes of flu A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination is a different subtype. All known subtypes of flu A viruses can be found in birds.

The flu virus can change from year to year, and the protection you get from a flu vaccine declines over time. That's why you need a flu vaccination once a year, every year. The best time to get vaccinated is in October or November, at the start of the flu season. However, since flu season often does not peak until December or later, you can still benefit from getting the flu vaccine after November.

There is no vaccine for humans against avian flu. The vaccine against human influenza virus does not protect against avian flu.

There is no commercial vaccine currently available, but clinical trials for a vaccine against the H5N1 virus are underway.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded two contracts to support the production and clinical testing of an investigational vaccine based on a strain of avian influenza, H5N1, which might have the potential to cause pandemic influenza.

Vaccines against bird flu are already being made and tested. Experts are also testing new ways of making vaccine quickly. If pandemic flu occurs, we’ll need a vaccine for the specific virus causing the pandemic. Flu viruses change constantly so there’s little time to prepare a vaccine in advance. This new virus would be different from the current bird flu virus. So although it's possible we may have a bird flu vaccine, it's also possible it may not work on the pandemic flu virus.

Vaccines against the H5N1 avian flu currently occurring in SE Asia are under development. These are not the same as a pandemic vaccine ? if a pandemic were to emerge from this virus the virus may have changed to such an extent that this vaccine may not be appropriate.

Have taken any of the following medicines in the last 24 hours (listed alphabetically by generic name): other "triptans" like almotriptan (Axert?), eletriptan (Relpax?), frovatriptan (Frova?), naratriptan (Amerge?), rizatriptan (Maxalt?), and sumatriptan (Imitrex?); ergotamines like Bellergal-S?, Cafergot?, Ergomar?, Wigraine?; dihydroergotamine like D.H.E. 45? or Migranal?; or methysergide (Sansert?).

No. This product was devised in Australia by a company that is well known for its aggressive marketing. One of the active ingredients is chlorpromazine which is a relatively cheap drug used as an anti psychotic treatment. The nasal spray is however expensive and you are encouraged to purchase 12 month supply at over $2000

There is not a flu vaccine (also know as a flu shot) against the current avian flu (H5N1) commercially available at this time. However, vaccines are produced each year for seasonal flu ("the flu") that may prevent the flu or lessen symptoms. University Health Services (UHS) schedules "flu shot clinics" during the fall. For more information please see, Flu Shot Update.

Yes. Studies conducted before the licensure of LAIV show that it is very protective against influenza disease. CDC discusses the efficacy as follows: “In one large study among children aged 15-85 months, the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV) reduced the chance of influenza illness by 92% compared with placebo. In a study among adults, the participants were not specifically tested for influenza.