KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: All right. Well, less than two and a half months into flu season, and four and a half months remaining, the companies that make flu vaccine are out. It's already been a bad year, with flu classified as widespread in more than a dozen states, from Alaska to Pennsylvania. In four of those states, flu has killed previously healthy children, and those cases combined with new federal guidelines for vaccinating the very young have spurred demand for the serum. But even if you get the vaccine, you still could get at least a mild case of flu. That's because the prevalent strain isn't exactly the same as the one in the shot. So what's a flu fearing person to do?</s>DR. JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CDC: Well, I hope people don't panic, because there are still things we can do to help those who need the vaccine the most get it. But in addition, there are things that people can do to help protect themselves. In particularly, if you have a fever and a flu-like illness, you probably should stay home or keep your children home so that you don't serve as a source of infection to others. But in addition, cover your nose when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands and just practice good respiratory hygiene.</s>PHILLIPS: Besides that ounce of prevention, there's a nasal vaccine called Flu Mist and various compounds that claim to boost the immune system. If you get sick anyway there are antiviral drugs that can help if they're taken in time.
Companies Run Out of Flue Vaccine