The recommendations in last week’s H1N1 article are irresponsible, inaccurate and dangerous. According to the Physician’s Desk Reference, the nasal influenza vaccine is associated with an increased risk of “Medically Attended Events,” seen as asthma/reactive airway disease, in children under the age of 5 years.
The MAE list includes asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, cough, viral syndrome, otitis media and wheezing/ shortness of breath. “As a result of this finding, Flu Mist is not indicated for children < 60 months of age,” reads the PDR.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the priority of groups for nasal spray vaccine are pregnant women, those between the ages of 6 months and 14 years, caretakers of infants, health care providers, and those with underlying medical conditions.
Due to possible transmission of the virus, vaccine recipients are to avoid contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days. How can a parent, nurse, doctor or daycare worker not work for at least 21 days?
The following is a list of all “solicited events” observed within seven days of the vaccine and the probability of each event:
— Any event, 71.9 percent
— Cough, 12.9 percent
— Runny nose, 44.1 percent
— Sore throat, 27.8 percent
— Chills, 8.6 percent.
Sounds a lot like an increased chance of having all the symptoms of the flu, with a 100 percent chance of exposure.
Oh, and don’t forget the flu vaccine nightmare of 1976.