VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

1. Why get vaccinated?

Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza (flu).

Flu is a contagious disease that spreads around the 

United States every year, usually between October and 

May. Anyone can get the flu, but it is more dangerous 

for some people. Infants and young children, people 

65 years of age and older, pregnant people, and people 

with certain health conditions or a weakened immune 

system are at greatest risk of flu complications.

Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and ear 

infections are examples of flu-related complications. 

If you have a medical condition, such as heart disease, 

cancer, or diabetes, flu can make it worse.

Flu can cause fever and chills, sore throat, muscle 

aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuffy 

nose. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, 

though this is more common in children than adults.

In an average year, thousands of people in the United 

States die from flu, and many more are hospitalized. 

Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flurelated visits to the doctor each year.

2. Live, attenuated influenza 

vaccine

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older 

get vaccinated every flu season. Children 6 months 

through 8 years of age may need 2 doses during a 

single flu season. Everyone else needs only 1 dose each 

flu season.

Live, attenuated influenza vaccine (called “LAIV”) is a 

nasal spray vaccine that may be given to non-pregnant 

people 2 through 49 years of age.

It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop 

after vaccination.

There are many flu viruses, and they are always 

changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to 

protect against the influenza viruses believed to be 

likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. Even 

when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match these viruses, it 

may still provide some protection.

Influenza vaccine does not cause flu.

Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as 

other vaccines.

3. Talk with your health care 

provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting 

the vaccine:

 Is younger than 2 years or older than 49 years 

of age

 Is pregnant. Live, attenuated influenza vaccine is not 

recommended for pregnant people

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of 

influenza vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening 

allergies

 Is a child or adolescent 2 through 17 years of age 

who is receiving aspirin or aspirin- or salicylatecontaining products

 Has a weakened immune system

 Is a child 2 through 4 years old who has asthma or a 

history of wheezing in the past 12 months

 Is 5 years or older and has asthma

 Has taken influenza antiviral medication in the last 

3 weeks

 Cares for severely immunocompromised people 

who require a protected environment

 Has other underlying medical conditions that can 

put people at higher risk of serious flu complications 

(such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Live, Intranasal):

What You Need to Know
OFFICE 

USE 

ONLY

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

8/6/2021

Vaccine Information Statement

Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine

like diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, neurologic 

or neuromuscular or metabolic disorders)

 Does not have a spleen, or has a non-functioning 

spleen

 Has a cochlear implant

 Has a cerebrospinal fluid leak (a leak of the fluid that 

surrounds the brain to the nose, throat, ear, or some 

other location in the head)

 Has had Guillain-Barré Syndrome within 6 weeks 

after a previous dose of influenza vaccine

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to 

postpone influenza vaccination until a future visit.

For some patients, a different type of influenza vaccine 

(inactivated or recombinant influenza vaccine) might 

be more appropriate than live, attenuated influenza 

vaccine.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill 

should usually wait until they recover before getting 

influenza vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 Runny nose or nasal congestion, wheezing, and 

headache can happen after LAIV vaccination.

 Vomiting, muscle aches, fever, sore throat, and cough 

are other possible side effects.

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after 

vaccination and are mild and short-lived.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe 

allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, 

difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or 

weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest 

hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health 

care provider will usually file this report, or you can do 

it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.

gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS is only for reporting 

reactions, and VAERS staff members do not give medical 

advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or call 

1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and about 

filing a claim.

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package 

inserts and additional information at 

www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu.