The answer to this year’s flu vaccine shortage might be right under your nose — or up your nose, to be more accurate. FluMist, an intranasal flu vaccine, is available at the University Health Center for healthy students and faculty aged 14 to 49. Injected vaccines are also available for high-risk individuals.
In October, the United States lost half its supply of the year’s flu vaccines when British health regulators closed the chemical plant that would have produced them. The plant, owned by the Chiron Corporation, violated British health codes.
In recent months, the media devoted much of its coverage to the shortage, causing widespread confusion and alarm.
Sharon Harbert, R.N., the assistant director of nursing at the health center, has worked to counter the media reports and let people know that options are available.
“I have to undo all the press,” she said.
Harbert says the main difference between FluMist and the injected vaccine is that FluMist contains a live virus, while the virus in a flu shot is dead. In both forms, the vaccine produces the antibodies that fight the virus. In the medical field, the shot and the nasal spray are considered fairly comparable.
Harbert’s concern is that young, healthy people might get the virus and spread it to higher-risk
individuals.
“It is very important for people to consider being vaccinated, which would decrease their likelihood of giving the virus to someone else,” she said.
With the University health plan, a FluMist vaccination costs $22 and an injected vaccination costs $10. Check the health center Web site for the complete list of prices and eligibility criteria.

Jon Itkin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald