Should I Get the H1N1 Nasal Flu Vaccine if I Have Asthma?

Question: Should I Get the H1N1 Nasal Flu Vaccine if I Have Asthma?

Answer: No. People with asthma, including young children with recurrent wheezing, should receive the influenza injection, not the influenza nasal spray. The nasal flu vaccine contains a live but weakened flu virus that is designed to cause a mild case of the flu in the body. This mild infection causes the immune system to produce infection-fighting antibodies against the flu, protecting against a more serious infection from the flu. The flu shot, on the other hand, contains a dead flu virus that doesn’t cause an infection in the body, although it also causes the immune system to produce antibodies against the flu.

While the nasal flu spray may actually be a more effective vaccine that the flu shot, it is possible for a person to get a mild case of the flu with the nasal spray. For people with asthma, this could be dangerous, as viral infections like the flu can lead to serious asthma exacerbations. Therefore, anyone who possibly has asthma, especially young children, should get the flu shot and not the flu nasal spray.

Learn more about the prevention and treatment of influenza in people with asthma.

_Sources:

_{2009 Live-Attenuated Nasal Influenza Vaccine Information Statement. Centers for Disease Control. October 2, 2009.}

_{Moylett EH, Hanson IC. Mechanistic actions of the risks and adverse events associated with vaccine administration. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004; 114:1010-20.}

_{DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.}