Do-it-yourself flu vaccine? Military study suggests people can give themselves the nasal spray

A study suggests that do-it-yourself flu vaccine might be possible. Researchers found that military folks who squirted a nasal vaccine up their noses were as well-protected as others who got it from health workers.

The study leader says there is no reason that ordinary people could not be taught to give the vaccine, especially for children who might be less scared if they received it from mom or dad.

The study tested FluMist, the nasal vaccine, in more than 1,000 military members and their families over the last two flu seasons. Blood tests showed that immune responses were comparable regardless of who administered the vaccine.

Results will be reported later this week at a meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and several other groups in Philadelphia.