Needles Not Needed for Flu Vaccine

Skin patches are one way to reduce the need for the doctor's needle, but they are not the only way to deliver a vaccine effectively to [ep[;e who suffer from a fear of having their skin pricked by a needle. An Inhaled flu vaccine called flumist has been approved for children between the ages of two to five. The Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the nasal flue vaccine for use in people between the ages of five to 49.

The Flu vaccine offered changes every year. The vaccine chosen is usually a prediction from scientists about which strain of the influenza virus will affect the largest amount of people. The approval of a nasal flu vaccine for younger children gives doctors an extra option for children who may be reluctant to undergo the standard injection required by most vaccines.

In the 2006-2007 cold seasons, a shortage of the flu vaccine combined with fears of a strain of the avian virus caused anxiety about the possible outbreak of a pandemic. Some deaths of death to due the avian strain were reported, but the pandemic feared never materialized. Even though the 2007-2008 season will haveplenty of flu vaccine to go around and a nasally inhaled variant for those who do not want to be pricked with needles, the problem of getting the people who most need the boost to their immune system to the appropriate clinics remains The vaccination for the 2007-2008 influenza season is available to anyone who wants to avoid aching misery. For most healthy adults, the flu is nothing more of a week of misery.

The people most at risk for developing are people over the age of 50, people of any age who suffer from asthma, heat disease or other chronic illnesses, and pregnant women. Caregivers, such as relatives and health care workers who are likely to be working with those at higher risk, should also get the flu vaccine. Medicare provides the flu vaccine shots for free, and people over the age of 65 are most likely to take the precaution, showing that 69% of seniors take advantage of the opportunity. This falls short of the goal set for the Centers of Disease control that 90% of seniors receive the flue vaccine. And for those who do not like needles who should get the shot, needles are not the only option to protect you or your loved ones. The Inhaled Flu vaccine flumist works for those who shy away from having their skin poked.

Sources:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/DevicesandVaccines/tb/6736

"Vaccines are ready, but where are patients?" Lauren Nearguard. Tuesday, September 20, 2007. The Daily Item. Sunbury PA 17801