Special to The News-Herald

WINTON – The lack of flu vaccine in North Carolina is may improve a little during the next few days.

According to Curtis Dickson, Health Director for Hertford and Gates counties, &uot;CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta has shipped 2,490 additional doses of the traditional injectable vaccine to North Carolina and an additional 7,500 doses are expected next week.

It is currently unknown how much of this Hertford and Gates counties will receive.&uot;

Another option for local residents is FluMist – a nasal spray designed to battle the flu virus.

&uot;The Immunization Branch of the NC Division of Public Health has negotiated with Wyeth Lederle, the manufacturer of FluMist, so that the nasal spray vaccine can be administered through local health departments at a substantially reduced price that is comparable to the traditional vaccine,&uot; noted Dickson.

He continued, &uot;The additional vaccine will only be shipped to local health departments, and it will only be used for high-risk patients – children 6 to 23 months, children and adults with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women in their second and third trimesters, and senior citizens over age 65. Also, state immunization officials are continuing to work with local health departments to determine the statewide need for vaccine.&uot;

FluMist, which is administered by nasal spray instead of the traditional injectable method, will be available for purchase by local health departments at a substantially reduced cost that is comparable to the traditional vaccines. Healthy people between 5 and 49 years of age can take FluMist. This vaccine is a live virus vaccine but it has been attenuated (made weaker) in order to not produce the classical influenza-like illness. However, it has been proven that FluMist will induce both blood serum and nasal secretory antibodies, providing protection from a full-blown case of the flu prepared for in the vaccine. FluMist can be administered to persons with minor acute illness (e.g., diarrhea or mild upper respiratory tract infection, with or without fever).

People who elect to take the FluMist vaccine should avoid being around high-risk people for approximately two weeks due to the fact that they might be infectious for up to two weeks following their vaccination.

Dickson stated that the health department would order an initial supply of FluMist amounting to 50 doses. If additional doses are needed he will re-order in a quantity to meet the needs of the citizens seeking vaccination by FluMist.

Possible FluMist Side Effects

The most common side effects of FluMist, reported by children and adults, included runny nose or nasal congestion and headache. In children, there were also reported signs and symptoms of fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and muscular discomfort.

People must remember that flu symptoms can begin suddenly and may include fever, severe headache, body aches, sore throat and cough. Flu can make a person more susceptible to pneumonia – an illness that puts a severe strain on the heart and lungs, which can be especially dangerous to people who already suffer from heart and lung disease.

For those who develop flu-like symptoms, they should drink plenty of fluids, stay home from work and rest to avoid spreading the infection. People with the flu may also take over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, but should not aspirin.

Some who take aspirin, especially teens and children, risk developing Reye’s Syndrome. It causes the brain to swell. Prescription drugs are also available to treat flu; they are most effective if taken within two days of developing symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective against viral diseases like flu.