Autumn officially starts on Friday and that means flu season is close behind. The CDC recommends everyone get a flu shot. This year, a suburban Portland company is promoting a needle-free vaccine for people with needle phobia.
Tualatin, Oregon-based Bioject Medical Technologies makes a vaccine injector powered by a CO2 cartridge. Bioject president Ralph Makar says the way it works is a burst of pressure creates a tiny opening in the skin.
"So the injectable – or the vaccine – is pushed through that small opening thinner than a human hair," Makar explains. "This creates an ultra fine stream of high pressure fluid that basically penetrates the skin without using a needle."
Makar says reducing the risk of accidental needle pricks is another selling point of the needle-free injector. A nasal spray flu vaccine is also an option at many clinics and pharmacies, but the FluMist vaccine is only authorized for people ages 2 through 49.
The cost to the consumer of a traditional flu shot and the alternatives was the same when we price-shopped at Fred Meyer pharmacies and Group Health Cooperative.
Drug makers say plenty of flu vaccine is available this year, so there should be no lines like a couple years ago.
On the Web:
Copyright 2011 Northwest News Network
