H1N1 vaccine now offered in ‘mist’ form

For those who aren’t fans of needles, St. Thomas’ Student Health Services is providing the H1N1 vaccination in a nose-spray form.

The first allotment of H1N1 vaccines arrived Monday and were offered to students through injection for $10. But beginning Thursday, 250 “mist” doses are available at Health Services located just outside Brady Hall.

But easy access to the vaccine still isn’t changing the minds of some St. Thomas students.

“There’s a lot of people who probably need it,” freshman Jaslyn Boomgaarden said. “But at this age, I don’t think it’s an absolute necessity.”

The most recent update on St. Thomas’ pandemic planning Web site from Nov. 18 reported the lowest weekly increase in H1N1 cases of the semester. The number of presumed H1N1 cases had risen just 2 percent from the previous week.

Ashley Bolkcom can be reached at awbolkcom@stthomas.edu