I can't take it if I'm allergic to WHAT?

kids · Oct 12, 2009

That is very strange. The H1N1 nasal vaccine is made by the same company, using the same methods as the 'regular' FluMist vaccine.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm

morte, LPN, LVN · Oct 12, 2009

So, I go to take the H1N1 flu vac (nasal, that's all we have yet). I'm reading the "don't take if" statement, and come across a word like "arglargline" -- now rather than saying "I don't know what that is, so I must not be allergic to it" I ask the nurse. She gets a list, and starts reading -- turns out the one of the things it means is allergy to shellfish. Now, you feed me a shrimp, you're going to get to practice an emergency intubation. My allergy's that bad. One of my coworkers took it and has been feeling like crap for 2 days, and she's allergic to shellfish like I am -- she just didn't stop and ask what the word was.
Wish I could remember the word, but just a heads up for those thinking about taking the nasal version. Guess I'll wait for the needle and keep my fingers crossed until it's available.

since shell fish is a fairly common allergy, this should be clearly marked...doesnt do much to increase trust.....also contains MSG

CuriousMe · Oct 12, 2009

There is an ingredient called arginine in the H1N1 nasal spray. Here's the first sentence from the Arginine entry in WikiPedia: Arginine (abbreviated as Arg or R)[1] is an α-amino acid. The L-form is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids

It's an amino acid...so a building block for proteins...that the human body generally makes for itself (ie you don't need to eat it to have it). It is available in a variety of foods, including some seafood e.g. halibut, lobster, salmon, shrimp, snails, tuna.

Here's the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arginine

I also copied part of the VIS for the H1N1 Nasal Spray below....I can only imagine that if the spray triggered shellfish allergies, that they'd include it in the warning (as they did for egg allergies), as shellfish is a really common allergy.

Anyway, hope this helps!

*******************************

Copied from the H1N1 Nasal Spray VIS: 2009 H1N1 LAIV 10/2/09

5 Some people should not get

the vaccine or should wait

You should not get 2009 H1N1 LAIV if you have a severe

(life-threatening) allergy to eggs, or to any other substance

in the vaccine. Tell the person giving you the vaccine if you

have any severe allergies.

2009 H1N1 LAIV should not be given to the following groups.

• children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older

• pregnant women,

• anyone with a weakened immune system,

• anyone with a long-term health problem such as

- heart disease - kidney or liver disease

- lung disease - metabolic disease such as diabetes

- asthma - anemia and other blood disorders

• children younger than 5 years with asthma or one or more

episodes of wheezing during the past year,

• anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as

cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing

problems,

• anyone in close contact with a person with a severely

weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected

environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit),

• children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.

If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be advised to

wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. If you have

a mild cold or other illness, there is usually no need to wait.

Tell your doctor if you ever had:

• a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal

fl u vaccine,

• Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also

called GBS).

These may not be reasons to avoid the vaccine, but the

medical staff can help you decide.

2009 H1N1 LAIV may be given at the same time as most other

vaccines. Tell your doctor if you got any other vaccines within

the past month or plan to get any within the next month. H1N1

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2009

Thanks, Curious. I couldn't remember the word, and that helps. Still makes me wonder if it's a true reaction thing, or a bunch of lawyers doing "say it's cross reactive with everything so you don't get sued" kind of thing.

CuriousMe · Oct 12, 2009

Thanks, Curious. I couldn't remember the word, and that helps. Still makes me wonder if it's a true reaction thing, or a bunch of lawyers doing "say it's cross reactive with everything so you don't get sued" kind of thing.

(All of the following is just my--a second year nursing student who's also taking upper level chemistry classes--opinion...you should obviously speak with a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner)

Truly, I don't see anything in there that someone with a shellfish allergy would react to. The amino acid is found in fish--including a couple kinds of shellfish--but it's also found in dairy products, beef, pork, chicken and wheat germ.....and your body makes it itself.....it's one of the 20 most common amino acids.

Your friend's experience sounds in line with the effects some folks feel from a flu shot, what makes her think that she's experiencing an allergic reaction?

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2009

I think she was feeling crappy, I told her the thing about shellfish, and now she's "seeing shrimp everywhere." We did have 2 have reactions to the regular flu shot this year, huge palm sized localized reactions, but that's the only for sure ones I've seen. I haven't seen enough people with the H1N1 vac to notice true reactions...but I'm going for mine in 2 weeks, so we'll see.

morte, LPN, LVN · Oct 12, 2009

the allergy issue would come from the source of the arginine.....was it sourced from shell fish? or manugactured in a lab?

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2009

Don't know. Maybe it would depend on the manufacturer, and the form was just covering all bases? I'd love to learn more about the nuts and bolts, but full time and school full time, there ain't time...

jennifer0702 · Oct 13, 2009

Does anyone know when the mist is coming out? Will it be taking longer than the shot?

indigo girl · Oct 13, 2009

Available before the injections, but not in all locations yet.

CuriousMe · Oct 13, 2009

Available before the injections, but not in all locations yet.

I know we have the nasal spray here, but not the shot yet. D/T my asthma, I don't mess around with the nasal spray, I'm waiting for the shot.

Peace,

Cathie