Which H1N1 Vaccine for People With Asthma?

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

We have all heard that people with asthma should be in the first group to get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. As it turns out, the first round of vaccines available are in the form of FluMist - the one that is absorbed through nasal mucosa.

If you (or your child) are one of the 21 million Americans who has asthma, it is important to know that you should NOT get the FluMist version of the H1N1 vaccine (or the FluMist seasonal flu vaccine either, for that matter). FluMist contains live attenuated (weakened) virus and could cause an asthma attack.

It looks like even though the message to people with asthma is to get vaccinated against H1N1 as soon as possible, in this case "as soon as possible" really means "as soon as the H1N1 flu shot is available." The injected vaccine contains killed virus and is recommended as the vaccine choice not only for people with asthma, but also for people with suppressed immune systems (from HIV or certain medications such as antirejection drugs, chemotherapy and corticosteroids), pregnant women, people with certain muscle or nerve disorders or long-term health problems (such as diabetes or disease of the lungs, hearts or kidneys), and children and teens on long-term aspirin treatment, among others.

If you are unsure if FluMist is appropriate for you, ask your doctor. Honestly, even if you do not have any of the above conditions, but are in close contact with people who do, such as family members, it might be a good idea to play it safe and get the shot if you have a choice and it doesn't mean a big delay in getting vaccinated. I have multiple sclerosis and not only do I get the seasonal flu shot in lieu of FluMist, so does the rest of my family, just to play it safe.