Mist away from flu symptoms

Megan Kawa

Girls are starting to complain all around the school of headaches, fevers of 101º, sore muscles, exhaustion and painful coughs. Classmates are leaving school early in a rush of sickness. Yes, it’s that time of year again, flu season.

Instead of preventing the common influenza this year with a regular old flu shot, check out the first nasal flu vaccine, FluMist. The vaccine contains a live but weakened, influenza virus, which is administered into the nose where the flu typically enters the body.

All healthy individuals ages 5 to 49 are able to receive FluMist.

Side effects are generally mild and temporary and the most common is a runny nose.

“I don’t think it is known yet on how effective it will be,” said school nurse Shirley Young of FluMist, but “it is a lot more expensive than the shots. It would cost $47 to get it.”

Sophomore Andra Woods said, “Last year my mom told me I had to get a flu shot and I cried…I am afraid of getting shots.’ With FluMist, “I wouldn’t have to worry about a big needle going into my arm.”

“There have already been two reported cases of influenza in Douglas County which can led to pneumonia and death. Last year there wasn’t any cases reported until December,” said Young.

FluMist provides a safe and easy way to protect yourself from the flu. Young said, “it [FluMist] is suppose to fight against three virus that are a threat” and “it is a cheap insurance against the flu” because “it is going to be bad this year.”