Plymouth mum issues flu spray warning after daughter's 'very rare' reaction

This photo was taken on the Wednesday after the vaccination on Monday October 14
-Credit: (Image: Kelly Harmer)


A Plymouth schoolgirl was left hospitalised after suffering a 'rare' severe allergic skin reaction to a nasal flu vaccination. Kelly Harmer said her nine-year old daughter Poppie developed a painful red, raw blister rash on her neck and shoulders which also spread to her face.

Poppie also suffered shortness of breath and felt very lethargic. The reaction came after she received the vaccination at her school in the form of a nasal spray on Monday, October 14. Kelly said the only question they were asked was whether she was allergic to eggs.

However, Poppie felt too poorly to go school the following day and by the following Wednesday she woke up with raw skin. Kelly said she took her daughter to a doctor who in turn advised her to attend the emergency department at Derriford Hospital.

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The nine-year-old was sent home with a course of antibiotics but her father, who lives in Salisbury said he would look after her for a few days to give her mum some respite, but by the Friday her condition had worsened her dad took her to the accident and emergency department of Salisbury Hospital where she was kept in and put on antibiotics intravenously along with fluids and the painkiller oramorph.

Kelly told PlymouthLive: "It's quite normal to give the nasal flu vaccination at schools now and has been for a few years, so we did not think anything of it. Poppie does have bad eczema but it's been under control for the last few weeks so we authorised the nasal spray.

"She had it on the Monday afternoon, after break, but when she came home she started saying she felt sick, and very lethargic with a little shortness of breath. The next day I noticed her itching but it was not until the Wednesday morning she woke up and started to look really bad - her skin was raw."

Kelly took the first photo at this point, showing the marks over her daughter's body, particularly over her neck and shoulder.

She said: "I took her to Derriford Hospital and they sent her home with some oral antibiotics. Her dad came to see her and said he'd look after at his place in Salisbury for a while to recuperate, but after she got there she went even further downhill and he took her straight to Salisbury Hospital."

Kelly Harmer's nine year old daughter suffered a painful reaction to the nasal flu vaccine given to her at school
Kelly Harmer's nine year old daughter suffered a painful reaction to the nasal flu vaccine given to her at school -Credit:Kelly Harmer

By the following Friday Poppie's skin looked even worse and she was put on a drip of antibiotics and painkillers.

"They think the flu virus she had ignited a reaction in her and she began to scratch her skin - they said she scratched so much she got staphylococcus.

"There was no warning really - just a question about whether or not she was allergic to eggs, which she's not. It seems like her body reacted in such a way that she began itching . Apparently it's a very rare incident to react like this.

"I do think there should be a warning for children with eczema - which she does have - and alert them that this could also happen to them. Thankfully, she's much better now, but she had to have an IV drip of antibiotics and oramorph at Salisbury Hospital.

"There is a side effect listed for itchy skin from the vaccine and it does ask about allergies to eggs which I'm not aware my daughter has, but I feel I need to share this experience so others can be aware and not have to go through what my daughter has."

A spokesperson for NHS England said they were unable to discuss individual cases but urged people to visit the NHS website: Children's flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

In addition, they stated that adverse reactions can be reported via the MHRA yellow card scheme: Yellow Card | Making medicines and medical devices safer (mhra.gov.uk)

Dr Danielle Middleton, MHRA Safety and Surveillance Deputy Director said: “Patient safety is our top priority. Our role is to continually monitor safety during widespread use of a vaccine, such as the nasal flu vaccine. We have robust, proactive safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place.

“All vaccines and medicines have some side effects. These side effects need to be continuously balanced against the expected benefits in preventing illness within the population.

“We encourage patients, carers and healthcare professionals to report any suspected side effects they experience with the vaccine to us via our Yellow Card scheme."

Why children are offered the flu vaccine

Flu can be very unpleasant for children and can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia.

Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who do not have a health condition need hospital care because of flu.

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people.

Who should have the children's flu vaccine

The children's flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

It's recommended for:

  • children aged 2 or 3 years

  • school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)

  • children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Who cannot have the children's flu vaccine

Most children who are eligible for a flu vaccine can have the nasal spray.

But some children may be offered the injected flu vaccine instead if they:

  • are under 2 years of age

  • have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the nasal spray vaccine

  • have had a serious allergic reaction to an ingredient in the nasal spray vaccine, including gelatine, neomycin or gentamicin

  • have a severe egg allergy that's needed intensive care hospital treatment

  • have a severely weakened immune system, or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system (for example, someone who has had a bone marrow transplant)

  • have asthma that's being treated with long-term steroid tablets or has needed intensive care treatment in hospital

  • have had a flare-up of asthma symptoms in the past 72 hours, including wheezing or needing to use a reliever inhaler more than usual

  • are having salicylate therapy

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