Delays in delivery of nasal flu vaccine leave some clinics and patients waiting
It's safe to say that most kids prefer a spray up the nose instead of a shot to protect against flu. But there are delays this year in shipments of FluMist. The manufacturer, MedImmune, says it's had to spread out delivery to clinics because it had to replace three of the four strains from last year's vaccine.
At Children's Mercy's primary care clinic, Gael Martinez is going to get FluMist.
"Since they're kids, the regular shot hurts them and so that we don't cause them any pain, I prefer the mist," said his mother, Maria Martinez.
The clinic has an adequate supply now of FluMist for children who receive their vaccinations through Medicaid. But a doctor says the clinic's supply of nasal vaccine for kids with private insurance has been "day-to-day."
"If they want to go ahead and receive the injection, we can do that. If they wish to come back when we have more supply of the FluMist that their insurance will cover, we can accommodate that as well," said Dr. George Phillips.
Some other pediatric clinics in the metro say they've received only one fifth or one sixth of their supply of FluMist so far this season.
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