Do I have the flu?

Is it possible to catch swine flu from the nasal spray vaccine?

Last week, I had a cold or something, no fever. I had an appointment for a swine flu vaccine on Friday, and by then I was feeling mostly better so I went and took it. I did not get the shot, I got the nasal spray. Now, 5 days later, I have a slightly sore throat, cough that is getting worse, I am achy, tired, and I have a fever of 100. 1. Is it possible I caught the swine flu from the vaccine?

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 8:28 pm and is filed under the flu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Is it possible to catch swine flu from the nasal spray vaccine?”

1. Brianna S on December 21st, 2009 at 8:33 pm

   it’s a live virus, so i guess it’s possible

2. TweetyBird on December 21st, 2009 at 8:57 pm

   No, it’s not possible. Perhaps you need to know how vaccines work. The intranasal vaccine you had (Flumist) contains attenuated (live, weakened) virus. Viruses are surrounded by a protein capsule. These proteins are also called antigens. Your immune system reacts to the antigens because they’re a foreign protein that doesn’t belong there. Your immune system produces antibodies. Your immune system also produces chemicals that cause the symptoms you feel — the fatigue, the aches, the fever. You see, the vaccine “tricks” your body into thinking it’s under attack and it goes into both offensive and defensive mode. The attenuated virus cannot replicate and continue the invasion, macrophages (a type of large white blood cell that “eats” invaders) will eventually engulf the limited number of viruses that were introduced with the vaccine and your symptoms will subside.

   So, you see you don’t have the flu. This is your immune system in action.

3. Shelby on December 21st, 2009 at 9:00 pm

   Unlikely, but possible. You could have gotten it from the vaccine if your immune system is suppressed, but that’s about it.

   You also could have come in contact with it either before you got the vaccine or since then, as the vaccine isn’t protecting you for two weeks, if I remember correctly. There’s always also the chance it just won’t work as it’s supposed to in all people, but that’s a different story.

   One final thought: It could be a reaction to the vaccine, but for you it seems a bit late (usually occurs within a few hours-days.

   Hope you feel better! If you feel worse or don’t get better in a few days I’d go back to the doc.

   GOOD LUCK!

   *Shelby*