Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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April 23, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Drug Maker Eyes Growth in New Flu Vaccine"

Investor's Business Daily (www.investors.com) (04/21/03) P. A6; Reeves, Amy

MedImmune's flu vaccine nasal spray FluMist, which will eliminate the need for needles to deliver the flu vaccine once approved by the FDA, will most likely encourage more people to get the flu vaccine each year.  However, FluMist will cost about $30 more than the traditional flu shot, and handling of the product is difficult due to its requirement to be frozen and then immediately used.  Researchers are also worried that FluMist's live virus will infect children exposed to it via vaccinated patients and cause mutated forms of the illness.

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