Senior doctor steps in to cure flu vaccine fears

Tuesday 09 October 2018

One of Jersey's most senior doctors is reassuring parents that the new nasal spray flu vaccine is not to be sniffed at - after many flocked to social media, concerned that it will infect, rather than protect, their children.

In a letter sent to all school headteachers, the Medical Officer for Health, Dr Susan Turnbull says the new vaccine ‘Fluenz’ - which is given as a nasal spray rather than being injected - cannot spread the flu, and is so safe that she would use it on her grandchildren.

According to Dr. Turnbull’s letter, one reason for some parents’ worry is a promotional video showing the American equivalent of the vaccine, ‘Flumist’, being sprayed into the air. She said that this led some parents to worry the virus could become airborne.

Pictured: Jersey's Medical Officer of Health is reassuring parents that the new nasal flu vaccine is completely "safe and effective" amid spreading concerns on social media. (Twitter/Dr Susan Turnbull)

Dr Turnbull emphasised that the vaccine contains a version of the virus that has been deliberately changed so it is too weak to actually cause infection. She explains: “Vaccines [like Fluenz] work by prompting the immune system to produce its own antibodies, ready to prevent the vaccine-protected person from becoming infected by ‘real’ flu when the seasonal (winter) flu virus starts circulating.”

In previous years, the nasal flu vaccine has been given to nursery and primary school children, but is now being given to all students up to the age of 16. 

Dr. Turnbull also addressed the worry that “other children, or even staff members, could be at risk of infection if they are in the same environment as children receiving [the] vaccine” due to the spray-like nature.

The Medical Officer stressed that when the vaccine is administered, no external mist is created in the atmosphere, meaning that there is no risk of either inadvertently vaccinating other people nearby, nor infecting them.

The new flu vaccine is dividing opinion on social media. One parent posted on a Facebook thread discussing ‘Fluenz’: “Never had it and I’ve never had flu. I’ve been given the form for my daughter to have it [but] I believe her immune system isn’t too great so I won’t be giving it to her.” 

Pictured: The new nasal spray vaccine is dividing opinion on social media, prompting the Medical Officer to write a letter to schools to allay parents' concerns.

In contrast, another user posted on the same thread: “Why wouldn’t you do it? It doesn’t hurt children and it’s EXTREMELY low risk. We are part of a community and as such should protect ourselves and those vulnerable people around us…" 

Dr. Turnbull wrote in her letter: “It would be a terrible shame if misinformation generating misplaced concern were to stop some of our children from receiving safe and effective protection from infection in the coming flu season.”

Signing off her letter with a personal note, Dr. Turnbull added: “If my own (now adult) children were still of school age, I would want them to be at the front of the queue for this and all other safe, effective vaccines (as indeed they were), and as my two small grandchildren currently are too.”