Knox County to offer free FluMist to public school students

MedImmune Inc., makers of FluMist, will provide more than $1 million worth of the vaccine, which is administered through the nose instead of by a shot to arm. The donation will cover about 53,000 students.

The school system closed for a few days last year because of a flu outbreak.

Parents must sign a consent form for their children to receive FluMist. The vaccines will be administered starting Oct. 17.

Officials do not know how many students will take advantage of the free vaccine. Some principals have said they believe half of their students’ parents will want their children vaccinated, said Aleece Stewart, supervisor of health services for Knox County Schools.

“(Parents) really don’t like school to be closed,” Stewart said.