Minnesota hospitals, clinics find nasal flu vaccine in short supply

A nationwide shortage of FluMist, the nasal spray flu fighter popular among needle-phobic youngsters, has left many Minnesota hospitals and flu clinics in short supply during this, the busiest time of the flu shot season.

So far, the Minnesota Department of Health has received just 42 percent of its pre-order of FluMist, said Kris Ehresmann, director of the department’s infectious disease, epidemiology, prevention and control division.

Some providers have completely run out, although others still have some in stock. That has left parents either scrambling to find doctors and pharmacies with ample supply of the nasal spray or else holding off on vaccinating their children until next month, when more FluMist is expected to arrive.

http://www.startribune.com/mist-opportunity-shortage-of-nasal-vaccine-might-needle-minnesota-kids/351525471/