Submit your question for Dr. Mary Mason

Dr. Mary Mason wants to hear from you. She's answers your health questions every Wednesday on News 4 at Noon. This week, she's answering questions on food allergies.

What makes FluMist different from the flu shot vaccine?

 It contains live flu viruses that have been weakened and otherwise changed so that they can grow in the cooler temperatures of the nose, prompting a strong immune response, but they can't grow in the warmer climate of the lungs, thus causing infection. It is given as a single spray into each nostril. Traditional flu shot contains dead viruses, which can't grow at all. 

Is FLumist as effective as the flu shot?.

Several studies have suggested that FluMist may actually work better than a flu shot. FLumist may offer longer and better protection against mismatched strains, such as when the flu vaccine doesn't exactly cover the flu virus strains that are going around that year, like we saw last year when they was only a 40% match in strains.  More research is needed.  Also since FluMist is given as a nose spray, some experts think that it may not be as effective if your child is very congested, such as if he has allergies or a cold.

Can the live virus in FluMist cause flu symptoms?

 Some people may have mild flu-like reactions, including a runny nose, headache, cough or sore throat in adults, and children may have runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and fever. These smptoms can last up to three days

Is FluMist safe for everybody?

Flumist can't be given to everyone, including:

children younger than age 2

adults older than 50 years old

children with medical conditions, such as asthma or reactive airway disease, diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system

children younger than=2 0age 5 who have had problems with recurrent wheezing

children who are taking aspirin

teens who are pregnant

Will flu vaccination be covered by my medical insurance?

 Federal and private health insurers cover flu shots. In general, FluMist is more expensive than a flu shot, although most insurance companies have started to pay for FluMist, so your cost may not be any different.  Check with your insurance company to make sure.

About Dr. Mary Mason:

Dr. Mason is board certified in Internal Medicine and is the Assistant Clinical Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. She went to medical school at Washington University, and did her Internal Medicine Residency and
was Chief Resident for Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  Dr. Mason teaches in the internal medicine residency clinic.