Can health care providers get the live attenuated influenza vaccine?

Yes, the flu spay, which is made with live attenuated influenza virus is a very good option for most health care providers who are healthy, younger than 50 years old, and not pregnant. However, health care providers should not get the spray vaccine if they are providing medical care for patients who require special environments in the hospital because they are profoundly immunocompromised (e.g., those who work in bone marrow transplant units).

Although no immunocompromised patient has been shown to be harmed by use of the nasal spray vaccine among health care workers, the recommendation against the use of the spray in health care workers with this type of patient contact is intended as an extra precaution for fragile immunocompromised patients. Health care workers with this type of patient contact can get spray, but if they do, they should wait 7 days after being vaccinated before returning to duties that include care of severely immunocompromised patients in special environments.

Last Reviewed: 09/01/2010

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