BOSTON -- Amid reports of a flu season that's worse than usual, and with the vaccine in short supply, people are swamping the offices of pediatricians, doctors and pharmacies.

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NewsCenter 5's David Boeri reported the inhaled version of the vaccine is in especially high demand.

Harvey Tabachnick's pharmacy was unusually busy Friday after his daughter publicly announced that the pharmacy has the FluMist.

"We need a faxed prescription, a healthy individual, 18 to 49, " Tabachnick advised a customer over the phone.

The FluMist is in the freezer, kept at 15 degrees. Since the vaccine is a live virus, unlike the shot, people must go to the pharmacies to get it and it must be administered immediately. Unlike the flu shot, Flu Mist requires a prescription and only doctors can purchase them from pharmacies.

People are panicking and scared, Tabachnick said, because of the massive amount of television and newspaper coverage.

"You bet people are scared out there," said Tabachnick. "It's pandemonium out there. "

Meanwhile, over at Dr. John Cohen's pediatric office, Matthew, who is asthmatic, received the recommended flu shot.

"Another happy customer," said Cohen, over Matthew's cries.

There is a shortage of the vaccine, Cohen said, yet the demand for the vaccine is unreasonably high, because of news headlines and panic.

"We have panic out there right now. Everybody thinks they must get a vaccine now, " said Cohen.

Unless you have asthma or are elderly, chances are you do not need the vaccine, Cohen said.

Cohen said, in a normal year, 36,000 people die of the flu, without any of the panic seen now.