October's here, so it's time to start thinking about both Halloween costumes and flu shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting your flu shot this month or the next in order to have maximum protection from this viral respiratory illness during the peak season. There are no shortages of the vaccination this year.

Asthma patients that contract influenza are at high risk for developing complications like pneumonia, so the CDC recommends they get vaccinated every year. In fact, if you tried to find a flu vaccine during a year with shortages, you probably know that asthma patients and other high-risk individuals receive first priority.

Here are a few other things to know about flu shots, according to the CDC:

1. Contact your doctor before getting a flu shot if you/your child is allergic to chicken eggs or had a serious reaction (including Guillain-Barre` syndrome) to a previous flu shot.

2. Babies younger than 6 months cannot get flu shots.

3. If you or your child has been sick with a fever, wait for the vaccination until symptoms have cleared.

4. The flu shot can cause some mild symptoms like low-grade fever and aches, but it will not cause the flu.

5. The influenza vaccination CAN cause a serious allergic reaction, although it is rare.

6. Remember that while the flu shot is safe for asthma patients and helps protect them from this very serious illness, the FluMist nasal spray is not safe for people with asthma because it can cause wheezing.

7. The FDA has approved the FluMist nasal spray only for people aged 2 to 49.


If your child is getting a flu shot for the first time this year and you're worried about the effect of the vaccination on her asthma, please read this 2002 press release from National Jewish Medical and Research Center. In it, the pulmonary hospital discusses a study showing the vaccine is safe for asthma patients.

Finally, bookmark this influenza map for reference throughout the 2007-08 flu season. Reporting resumes this week, and this page is a good source of information for holiday travel.


Check out my blog, Asthma Mom.

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"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -Thich Nhat Hanh



This article is not written by a medical professional, and information on this page should never be substituted for your physician's advice. If you have any questions about your asthma and/or allergies, you should always contact your physician first.