Last year in October of 2012, two types of flu vaccinations were offered to our children at the Elementary school, in the MPR: an injectable flue vaccination and a nasal spray, also referred to as “flumist”.  According to the center of disease control, the flumist contains weakened live influenza strains.  Because it contains ‘live’ strains there is a secondary transmission risk of 2.4% from one vaccinated individual to one non-vaccinated individual.  There is also a 21-day exposure period  in which the risk of secondary transmission remains.  There were approximately 300 students who participated in the on-site flu vaccinations, choosing preferably the non-injectable flue vaccination.   As a consequence the 2.4% risk of secondary transmission became exponentially increased, 300 fold.   There were students who elected to not receive a flu vaccination, including my two children. 

My spouse watched the children as they were administered the flumist vaccine in the MPR, just prior to lunchtime.  The initial reaction of each individual is to sneeze, thus potentially ‘spreading the vaccine’ throughout the MPR, also known as the lunch room, gymnasium, meeting, gathering room.  Two days following the approximate 300 person vaccination I walked by the front office where I overheard two of the administrators comment that the kids were ‘dropping like flies’.  One of my children, Lainey, became ill on that day.  It began with gastrointestinal issues and shortly thereafter serious ‘flu like symptoms’, followed by a bacterial infection. She missed two full weeks of school. 

My other child has had a history of a severely neurologically compromised system.  I was not advised of the risk of secondary transmission, the length of time for the exposure, nor was I asked for authorization for my children to be exposed to a ‘live virus’ that would be administered on school grounds.

Per the manufacturer of Flumist it is advised:

“vaccine recipients/their  parents/guardians should be informed by the health care provider that FluMist is an attenuated live virus vaccine and has the potential  for transmission to immunocompromised household contacts”.   

Shouldn’t this pertain to “school contacts’ as well?

I received a copy of the community flu clinics 2013 schedule.  It lists all of the locations available throughout the county.  Mammoth Lakes Elementary School is the only school setting mentioned amongst 10 establishments.  I urge the district to not allow the FluMist vaccine to be administered on school grounds.  I also ask that this item be put on the agenda for the next board meeting.

One last comment regarding FluMist,  the first inactive ingredient in FluMist is MSG. So if you any of you experience migraines you may want to avoid it. Secondly it is advised for any individuals suffering from asthma to not take the FluMist.   

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