Flu Season: Free Vaccine Program Cancelled at Anne Arundel Schools

A shortage of a popular nasal spray to vaccinate children from the flu will not be available for use at schools this year — likely leaving many children unvaccinated.

Anne Arundel County health officials and school administrators are encouraging parents to schedule flu vaccine injections with their family doctors.

“Obviously, we want to do everything we can to keep our students healthy and in school,” said schools Superintendent George Arlotto.

Thousands of county students are vaccinated each year at elementary schools using the nasal spray FluMist vaccine. The vaccine was only provided to students after parental consent.

But a delay in manufacturing has pushed the delivery date for the vaccines this year into December. That’s much too late in the flu season to launch a countywide program.

“The FluMist vaccination program simply could not move forward without knowing when we would receive an ample supply of the nasal spray vaccine,” said Dr. David C. Rose, Acting Health Officer for Anne Arundel County. ”We hope to resume the program next year.”

The Department of Health will explore setting up clinics to offer the vaccine when an ample supply is available.

Image: Flu Virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention