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Who NOSE the nasal way to help prevent the flu?

Vaccinate Before Flu Strikes

The best way to help keep your child from getting the flu is to make sure he or she gets a flu vaccine. Just as other diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella are best prevented by vaccination, the same is true for the flu.

Vaccinating children against influenza may also help reduce missed school days, and in turn may help reduce the need for parents to take time off work to care for sick children.

Luckily, you can get your eligible kids vaccinated even before the flu season (well-child visit, back-to-school visit, sports physical) — because FluMist® can be administered as soon as it is available and throughout the flu season.

Flu Vaccination Recommendations for Children

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend flu vaccination for*:

  • Children aged 6 months through 18 years
  • Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged 6-59 months
  • Children and adolescents with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems
  • Children who come in contact with people at high risk for flu complications (infants, elderly grandparents, etc.) — that’s nearly 2 out of every 5 children aged 5 to 17!
  • Anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu

*Please note: FluMist is not appropriate for all recommended populations. Children less than 24 months of age are not eligible for FluMist. Individuals with asthma and children under the age of 5 years with recurrent wheezing should not receive FluMist (see Important Safety Information for additional eligibility information). Talk to your healthcare provider to see if FluMist is right for you or your child.

You cannot get the flu from FluMist.
FluMist is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.

Next: Surprising Facts About the Flu

Important Safety and Eligibility Information

Who may be eligible for FluMist®?

FluMist® is a vaccine approved for the prevention of certain types of influenza disease in children, adolescents, and adults 2-49 years of age. FluMist may not protect everyone who gets it. FluMist is for intranasal administration only.

Who may not be able to get FluMist?

FluMist is not right for everyone. FluMist must not be given to: people with history of hypersensitivity to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin, or arginine; people with life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations; and children and adolescents receiving aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy.

Children less than 24 months of age are not eligible for FluMist.

The following people may not be able to get FluMist or may be able to get it only in certain situations: people with asthma or active wheezing, or children less than 5 years of age with recurrent wheezing; people with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome; people with a weakened immune system; people with long-term medical conditions including heart disease, kidney disease, and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes; and pregnant women.

If your child falls into one of these groups, be sure to tell your healthcare provider. They will decide if FluMist is right for your child.

What are the most common side effects of FluMist?

Most common side effects included runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, and fever. For a full list of side effects, please see section 6.1 in the accompanying Product Information.