Best Inventions of 2003

Inventor: Hunein Maassab and Medimmune Vaccines

Hate shots? FluMist, a new alternative vaccine for the influenza viruses that send millions of Americans back to bed every winter, is administered as a nasal spray. Approved by the FDA in June for healthy people ages 5 through 49, it triggers a buildup of antibodies in the upper respiratory tract—flu's favorite point of entry. The catch: FluMist costs three to four times as much as the shot, and most health-insurance companies won't cover it.

Availability: Now, about $50 a dose
To Learn More: flumist.com