Elementary school students can receive free flu vaccinations at school beginning this fall.
“The widespread access and availability of FluMist … will only improve overall county public health during the flu season,” Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold said in a statement.
“Young people are a lot more receptive to getting the nasal spray rather than the shot and it?s easier to administer,” said Elin Jones, the public information officer for the county?s Department of Health.
The additional funding, approved Monday, will come from the Chief Administrative Officer?s contingency fund, but the amount was unavailable. Leopold was unavailable for comment.
FluMist is a nasal-spray vaccine that contains weakened influenza viruses aimed at building the body?s immunity to the flu. This type of vaccination reduced flu symptoms in children by 92 percent. It is approved for healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 and best when administered in October, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, 9,815 students received the vaccinations, resulting in the administration of 13,617 doses, Jones said.
Children younger than 9 who received the vaccine for the first time needed a second dose.
This year, she expects the schools to deliver 15,000 doses.
The county health department has provided FluMist to residents since 2003.
“It?s offered for every [healthy] child and every school in the county,” Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokeswoman Maneka Wade said. “Based on what some of the principals said, it was popular because it was free.”
Staff Writer Jason Flanagan contributed to this report.
