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Flu-mist vaccine in short supply in Utah; alternative is shot or naught

Posted at 3:01 PM, Oct 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-22 18:57:11-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- This flu season there is a flu-mist delay with dosage shipments nationwide, and it’s affecting Utah families.

The Utah Department of Health said it received less than half of its 25,000 doses--only 9,290 so far.

The immunization program manager, Rich Lakin, said he expects to receive the rest of the mist doses around Thanksgiving.

He explained the manufacturer for the flu-mist vaccine, MedImmune, stopped shipment when some of the doses didn’t test out.

“There are parameters, specifications that the vaccine should meet, and they found several lots were just barely out of the range so they hold on to those lots and do further testing,” Lakin said.

If you want to get the flu-mist vaccine versus the shot, Lakin said you will need to call around to different doctors to see who has ordered and received their own private stock. Otherwise, he said, the alternative in the meantime is to get the regular flu shot.