Swine Flu Vaccines May Be Nasal Spray FluMist

According to a report by the Center for Disease Control today, the first doses of swine flu vaccine may all be the nasal spray version. The estimated 3.4 million doses may all be in the form of a nasal spray, FluMist, that is approved only for healthy people ages 2 to 49, according to Dr. Jay Butler, an official with the CDC.

The nasal spray, called FluMist, is not recommended for some of the people most in danger of severe swine flu complications. That includes pregnant women, children younger than 2, and people with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. CDC's Jay Butler indicated that it is possible that some vaccine shots will also become available by early October as well.

There is a difference between the Flu shots and FluMist nasal spray. Flu shots are made of killed influenza virus, while FluMist is a live but weakened strain. The nasal spray is only approved in the United States. Four other companies are making flu shots for the United States.

At a CDC press conference today, Dr. Butler indicated that the initial vaccine doses will go to up to 90,000 sites, including schools and clinics. State health departments will determine which offices and clinics get the shots, and whether health care workers or others get the first doses.

Here's the initial list from the CDC of who cannot be given the FluMist nasal spray vaccine:

Who should not be vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine FluMist?

*People less than 2 years of age

*People 50 years of age and over

*People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system.

*Children <5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing

*Children or adolescents receiving aspirin

*People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system

*Pregnant women

*People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.

More swine flu information: Swine Flu Symptom Checker

Written by Chery Phillips
Providence, RI
Exclusive to HULIQ