FluMist/shot day at school

[SusanInItaly]

Here in HI, they administer the flumist at school (and I think the shot, if the parent prefers it.)

The flumist is a live vaccine? So this would be good day to keep my kids home from school?

Thanks!

[Pariah]

Yes, FluMist is live.

[MaddieMay]

Sounds like your kids get a day off! I would make sure they aren't planning any "make up" dates.

[momofmine]

would try to find out when/how long it sheds. Does it shed right away? For how long?

[MissRubyandKen]

FluMist is an influenza vaccine that is live, given as an intranasal spray. It is approved for people aged 2-49.

CDC's pink book-

The frequency of shedding of vaccine strains by persons 5–49
years of age has not been determined.

Vaccinated children can shed vaccine viruses in
nasopharyngeal secretions for up to 3 weeks.

[crittersmom]

I'm here too and we went through it last year during Kindergarten.I told DS that he was only supposed to get shots if I took him to the Dr and I was there to make sure he was okay so if everyone else was going he should remind the teacher.They don't have a refusal for this specific shot form they just have an info and which version of the vaccine you want your child getting from.Since we are on an island and most people are probably going to vax (they said on the news that they had a good turnout with this program) especially with the "easier" Flumist that it would just be too hard to keep DS home to avoid shedding.I did keep him home on the shot day and makeup day but I worried that they might do it without warning so thats why I coached him too.

[lirpasirhc]

that's infuriating. how do they know which kids have already gotten vaxed? i forgot that revaxing never hurt anyone.

when i was pregnant, dh got the flumist for work. he was sick for over a week, but i didn't catch anything from him.

[SusanInItaly]

Thanks guys!

I kept my youngest (DS-5) home last year but DD(7) wanted to go and she normally has the strongest immune system so I let her go but also coached her on not getting the mist or shot, she's not allowed,etc.

This year I'll probably keep them both home. I quizzed DD about how many kids got it,etc and it seems like a lot of the kids get it. The handout they gave me says last year 60,000 students got it statewide. That sounds pretty big, we only have a little over a million people in the whole state!

I think it's nuts they do it at school too. I've never heard of it being done that way! What if I lived in w/someone with a depressed immune system,etc?

[loveyourohana]

I live in hawaii as well, I ended up deciding to do homeschool with my son this year. I personally think it is irrisponsible to administer anything at the school! They can't hand an aspirin to your child, but they can compromise someone with a weak immune system. Doesn't make sense to me!

[crittersmom]

Originally Posted by SusanInItaly

I think it's nuts they do it at school too. I've never heard of it being done that way! What if I lived in w/someone with a depressed immune system,etc?

I think the reason they do it at school is because its makes it easier and there is probably money involved and this a good testing area.If you live with someone with a depressed immune system then you should be first in line to protect them.

[MamaVolpe]

Wow, I would have thought that Hawaii of all states would have the least agressive flu shot promotions. I guess no one can get away from it.

[CanidFL]

Ugghh I would keep DS home if I found out the school was doing a vax day. My school did this when I was in kindergarten. I got the polio sugar cube and my parents had no idea I’m sure they would have been happy to sign the form to allow me to receive it but the fact that they didn’t know really made them angry.

[spero]

Obviously, keeping your kid out of school for 3 weeks isn't practical; but I'd keep him out on vax day (and any "make up" day/s) for sure, and then load him up with Emer'Gen-C every day afterward! And reinforce good handwashing practices.

[loveyourohana]

Give him mangoes for breakfast!!! Natural vit C, and really high in it... perhaps keep some colloidal silver or umcka from the healthfood store from down to earth... or give him a glass of juice with a couple of drops of grapefruit seed extract. Durring the three weeks of exposure...

Personally, I would file a complaint, and get any other parents who are against this to do the same thing... Its outragous!

Actually because I am a snot!!! I would probably walk into the principles office stating that your child has a family member that your child is around everyday with a weak immune system. This is irresponsible of not only the school district but the Health Dept. as well, you are outraged at this entire affair, that you are not willing to get a flu shot, because the chance of them being correct on the strain like they were last year is prob. well not worth the chance, and that they are going to be working with him for three weeks outside of school with no account on his record, considering this is the call of the DOE and not yours! So those missing days can not be counted against him.

But I am a B in real life with things like that... so hey.... what else can I say. That would be my source of action, and I wish it would be others as well... I bet they would not introduce it next year if parents who were disturbed by this did the same drastic pull out! What a statement ahhhh!

[thepeach80]

I would keep them home simply for the fact that I wouldn't want them to accidentally get vaxed. Though AJ had the flu earlier this year and it definitely wasn't a fun time, I've never seem him that sick, poor thing. He recovered just fine though and doesn't even remember it.

[AutumnNoelle]

Oh yeah, it's a live virus.
The Flumist vaccine is a live virus vaccine that is given as a nasal spray. The virus can be shed from the nasal passages of a vaccinated individual for up to 21 days after vaccination. The package insert for the Flumist vaccine clearly states "Due to the possible transmission of vaccine virus, Flumist recipients should avoid being in close (for example, within the same household) contact with immunocompromised individuals for 3 weeks following vaccination."
http://www.vaclib.org/basic/flumist.htm

[janellesmommy]

Originally Posted by Nicole!

Sounds like your kids get a day off! I would make sure they aren't planning any "make up" dates.

There are no make-up dates, luckily.
http://hawaii.gov/health/family-chil...bv_parents.pdf
"If your child misses his/her scheduled school flu vaccination clinic, you can call your regular health care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment. However, the only way to receive a free flu vaccine through this program is at school. Make-up clinic dates will not be scheduled."

I personally don't worry much about disease, so I wouldn't worry about the shedding. But I definately would keep my kid out on the vaccination day, just to make sure she didn't accidentally get the vaccine.