My boys will be getting their flu vaccinations next week with Flumist for the 1st time. In the past they got flu shots. I was just curious if anyone has had any experience with Flumist and how is compares to the shot?

By Dawnk777 on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 05:51 pm:

I don't really know. I've always gotten the shot. I got mine last week. So did Sarah. DH got his today.

By Luvn29 on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 08:46 pm:

My kids have had flu mist two years in a row and did very well with it. It isn't actually a nasal spray, it's actually the vaccine in a syringe (needleless) that they put barely into the nose and squirt up in each nostril.

They didn't get the flu either year that they had the mist.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 09:58 pm:

They didn't mind that? I hate having liquids in my nose. I think I'd rather get the shot.

By Rayelle on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 08:29 am:

I'm going to get it for my kids at the doctor this year. They got it last year, with my permission, at school. They gave it free to every elementary school in the county. It was the first time they got it, and they said they hated it, but it's way better than getting the flu,and better than a needle.

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 01:08 pm:

Adena -- How did your kids handle the "squirt"? Did it hurt them? I had thought it was a spray and was still concerned about my 4 year old who hates anything up his nose but thought it would be less painful than a shot. Also, did your kids have any side effects like fever and aches?

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 02:09 pm:

They handled it very well. I don't think I could stand it, but it didn't hurt at all. The only thing my son complained about was that you had some of the drippy taste in your throat. It really isn't that much going up the nose. I just wanted you to know that it wasn't with a nose spray type thingy because that caught me off guard, too. They don't put it all the way up in your nose. Just stick it in the opening and squirt it up in there. It didn't sting or anything.

They had no side effects at all from it. Another good thing with the Flu Mist because I know the shots can cause the arm to be very sore for a couple of days.

By Cybermommyx4 on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 10:36 pm:

Note: if your child has asthma, they will have to have the shot instead of the FluMist (at least that's what our doctor's office said) My DS with asthma was the only one who wanted the mist, as he uses Nasonex all the time anyway, but they said he had to have the shot. The rest of the kids preferred the shot, as "no one is going to put anything up my nose!" LOL! I just thought I'd share so no one is surprised at the MDs...

By Tklinreston on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 03:43 pm:

Thanks Adena! You've put to rest my concerns. I'm going to try it myself so I'll be happy to report how it feels on Monday.

By Tklinreston on Monday, November 19, 2007 - 12:21 pm:

Well we're back and it was "easy as pie". Even my little ds who hates any kind of nasal spray and was crying the whole way there in anticapation didn't even flinch. He is a happy little camper!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, November 19, 2007 - 02:31 pm:

I'm glad it went well!

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - 12:19 pm:

Thanks Dawn!