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ATTENTION, PARENTS!
No More FluMist:
NOW WHAT?
By: Dr. Judith Feick, Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Pike Creek
The flu is usually far from our minds in summertime, but an announcement by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the nasal spray vaccine FluMist has put influenza
back at the forefront. Come this fall, the FluMist nasal spray won’t be offered to anyone — flu
shots will be the only option available for the young and old. If you have kids who panic
at the mere mention of a needle, here’s what you need to know.
THE LOWDOWN ON THE
FLUMIST NEWS
Recently, a CDC committee made up of a
panel of immunization experts announced
that they were no longer recommending FluMist for the upcoming 2016-2017 flu season.
The FluMist nasal spray is the only flu vaccine
that comes in a form other than an injection
(shot). You may have heard FluMist referred
to by the more formal name “live attenuated
influenza vaccine (LAIV).”
Why the sudden change? Every season,
the CDC studies how effectively the flu vaccine is working. They found that the FluMist
nasal spray version didn’t prevent flu cases
from 2013 to 2016.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU
This flu season (from October to May), the flu
shot vaccine will be the only option offered
to combat the flu in children and adults. But
even though the FluMist nasal spray won’t
be available, it’s still vitally important to get
vaccinated this year and every year because
the flu strains change from year to year.
The flu vaccine is safe and effective. It
doesn’t cause the flu. At the same time,
getting vaccinated can’t guarantee your child
won’t contract the virus. But, if your child
does catch the flu, the symptoms should be
fewer and milder if vaccinated ahead of time.
The flu vaccine is highly recommended for
everyone ages six months and older, except
for those who have had a severe reaction
to a flu vaccination or have Guillain-Barré
syndrome (a rare condition that affects the
immune system and nerves). People with egg
allergies were previously advised to avoid
the flu vaccine because it’s grown inside
eggs. Now, however, health experts say it’s
safe for those with egg allergies to get a flu
shot — as long as you get the shot at a doctor’s office, not a pharmacy, supermarket, etc.
HOW TO BEAT NEEDLE ANXIETY
A lot of children and teenagers really, really
hate needles, so the news about the FluMist
no longer being an option will not be music
to their ears. But as scary as it might be for
some kids, the flu shot is essential for all
ages. So here are some tips and tricks to
reduce anxiety for infants to teens when it’s
time to get vaccinated:
•
Bring a favorite toy, game, electronic
device, or book to use as a distraction.
•
Listen to music with headphones.
•
Count or sing together.
• Take deep breaths (slowly inhaling
through the nose and exhaling through
the mouth).
•
Hold hands with or sit with your child on
your lap.
•
Encourage your child to look away and
focus on something else in the room
(like a picture on the wall), relax the arm,
and cough as the needle is inserted.
•
•
Try to appear as calm as possible,
Mom and Dad. Kids can pick up on your
anxiety, especially if you look upset
or concerned.
Incorporate praise and/or other forms of
positive reinforcement (like a fun activity
or a treat) into the post-shot experience.
Doctors and nurses usually have experience with needle anxiety. Letting them know
about your child’s and/or your nerves ahead
of time can be helpful, as they often have tips
to help you both relax.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about the flu, FluMist, and the
flu vaccine, check out these articles from
Nemours’ KidsHealth.org (check out the
digital version of Enhance for direct links to
each article!):
•
Flu Vaccine
•
Flu Center
•
Influenza (Flu)
• Too Late for the Flu Vaccine?
•
Frequently Asked Questions About
Immunizations
enhance magazine | SEPTEMBER 2016
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