Should some people not get the live, attenuated nasal spray vaccine?

Certain people should not get a nasal spray flu vaccine (includes live, attenuated virus). This includes:

• People younger than 2 years of age;
• Pregnant women;
• People 50 years of age and older;
• People with a medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications from influenza, including those with
  • chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease;
  • people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or
  • people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system;
• Children younger than 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing;
• Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;
• People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder of the nervous system, within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine,
• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.

Last Reviewed: 10/18/2010

• What are the types of seasonal flu vaccines?
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