“This expanded availability only applies to the nasal spray vaccine and not the injectable vaccine,” said Dr. Jerry Gibson, chief of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Bureau of Disease Control.
“The supply of the nasal spray or mist has become more plentiful in recent weeks, so we want to make it more widely available,” he said.
According to Gibson, the manufacturers of the nasal mist were able to produce large quantities of the vaccine earlier than the injectable vaccine could be produced.
“The nasal spray vaccine includes a live virus that has been weakened, and it works just as well and is just s safe as the injectable vaccine,” he said. “In fact, it is often easier to give to younger children and people who do not like shots,”
Those who should get the nasal spray form of the vaccine are those between the ages of 2 and 49 who have no underlying chronic conditions like heart disease, asthma or pregnancy, Gibson said.
The recommended target group for the injectable form is still the same, including pregnant women, children 6 months to 18 years, young adults up to age 24 and peoples ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions.
Gibson said it is best to confer with a doctor or healthcare provider about when you should get the vaccine.
“If you are not currently in one of the target groups for this vaccine or are not eligible to receive the nasal spray, be patient as others get immunized,” he said. “Everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to receive it this winter, very likely before the next wave of Novel H1N1 flu reaches South Carolina.”
For more information, visit www.scdheck.gov/flu
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