FluMist Shortage Means More Will Get Flu Shots This Year

DENVER (CBS4)- Pediatricians are warning they may not be able to offer FluMist this year to all of their young patients. The good news: there is plenty of the vaccine available in shot form.

There is a shortage of the nasal form because of a manufacturing shortfall. The projected shortage is not a reason for parents to panic. If your pediatrician doesn't have the nasal spray, they should have the injectable vaccine. If you insist on the mist, you can always shop around.

"We do have FluMist in our Safeway stores," said Nikki Price, Safeway Pharmacy Director, "We do have a good stock in place."

Pediatricians are warning parents about a national shortage of the nasal spray. They explain it as a manufacturing shortfall or production problem.

"The mist is great for some children, specifically so they avoid the injection," said family practice Dr. Anibal Martinez at Rose Medical Center.

Martinez said the FluMist is no more effective than the flu shot, "Initially there was a study a few years ago that showed that it was better, but then just a recent study shows that actually it's the same."

If you are set on a needle-free vaccine Price says call a Safeway store and they will be able to tell you what Safeway has the mist in stock.

The experts urge parents not to wait to vaccinate.

"October is typically known to start having flu outbreaks." said Price.

Martinez says they have already seen four cases of flu at Rose Medical Center. Both agree the time to get vaccinated is now.

The FluMist manufacturer, Medimmune, provides a list of where to find the FluMist on its website.

In an email to CBS4, Melissa Garcia of  MedImmune states: Nearly 4 million FluMist_® Quadrivalent (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) doses have been distributed this season in the United States and more doses are expected through end of the year.

While we will continue to ship FluMist Quadrivalent doses throughout October and November as they become available, our expectation is that many doses will be delivered after Thanksgiving.

Although vaccine will be out later than traditionally expected, the CDC says you should continue to vaccinate as long as flu viruses are circulating. We continue to support CDC guidelines to vaccinate as soon as product is available.

Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.