FluMist shortage hits New Hanover County

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Flu season is almost here, but one of the flu vaccines is not.

Personal Health Services Manager Carla Turner with the New Hanover County Health Department said the manufacturer of FluMist did not send them about 25 percent of their order. She said they are all out of the FluMist now, but they did order more of the flu shots.

She said they are fully equip to give the shot vaccination, although some people prefer the mist.

“I prefer the mist, because there is no shot involved,” Turner said. “It’s just the injection in each side of your nose, so I think more often than not, children do prefer that because there are no needles involved. The nice thing about the inject-able is that anyone, as compared to the FluMist, can get the inject-able vaccine, because it’s a dead virus.”

Turner said some people with asthma or respiratory issues cannot get the FluMist, because it’s an active virus. Turner said they may not have the FluMist, but it is still very important to get vaccinated this flu season.