It's Flu Season again.
And when studying for your CRNE it's important to review implications of influenza as well as national and provincial recommendations regarding flu vaccinations.
It's also important to go and get vaccinated, to protect yourselves and your patients.
Here is some exciting information from the BC flu program this year.
New to the publicly funded vaccine scene in BC this year is the nasal flu vaccine
(Flumist) covered for children ages 2-17.
This vaccine has actually been shown to provide
better protection in kids aged 2-8.
One big difference with the Flumist and
regular injected vaccines is that Flumist is a live attenuated influenza
vaccine. Precautions need to be taken to ensure that Flumist is never injected
with a needle.
For instructions on administering Flumist you can visit the link below:
A few special considerations for the live attenuated
influenza vaccine:
It is contraindicated for individuals who are immunocompromised, for people with
severe asthma, those who are pregnant or may soon become pregnant, or those with
an egg allergy, and those receiving Aspirin therapy within the
last 4 weeks.
Special precautions must be made for those who are in
contact with severely immunocompromised people. Since the vaccine contains
weakened but live virus, in rare occasions, it can be transmitted through
respiratory secretions.
Taking antiviral medication at the same time as receiving
Flumist has potential to interfere with their immune response, since with the live attenuated type of vaccine, the vaccine must replicate in the body to produce and immune response.
TB skin tests given in the 4 weeks after receiving Flumist
can result in a false negative, so if you are planning on having a TB skin test make sure you inform your nurse if you have received the flu mist.
Here is a great resource for reviewing immunizations and learning more regarding Flu vaccines, check out
www.immunizebc.ca
