Health
Nasal Flu Vaccine Now Available for Home Use
Health Points
- The FDA-approved FluMist Home nasal spray flu vaccine can now be self-administered at home, delivering a needle-free option for eligible adults and children.
- FluMist Home is available in 34 states, covering around 80 percent of those eligible, and is exclusively offered through home delivery.
- Experts highlight that the nasal spray format offers a convenient alternative, especially for those with needle anxiety or limited access to clinics.
Those looking for a needle-free flu vaccine can now choose a nasal spray option, allowing for self-administration without leaving home.
AstraZeneca has launched FluMist Home, enabling adults under 50 and children age 2 and up to receive the flu vaccine via nasal spray, following FDA approval in September.
“Approval of the first influenza vaccine for self- or caregiver-administration provides a new option for receiving a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine potentially with greater convenience, flexibility, and accessibility for individuals and families,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, of the FDA.
FluMist Home currently ships to 34 states, making it available to most eligible Americans, and broader rollout is planned for the future.
Nasal spray flu vaccines have been available for two decades, using weakened flu viruses to trigger immunity in children as young as 2 and adults under 50.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults 50 and older, children under 2, pregnant people, or those with chronic conditions choose the injectable flu shot instead.
Instructions for FluMist Home were designed for user-friendly, safe self-administration. Common side effects may include a runny nose, congestion, or mild sore throat.
“It’s easy to do — similar to spraying saline solution in your nose,” says Carlene Muto, MD, a medical director in Philadelphia.
FluMist Home orders are processed through a brief online questionnaire, and a pharmacist reviews responses before shipping directly to your door.
“Instead of taking a few hours to go to a pharmacy or to your medical provider, you can just go online, complete a questionnaire, and then have the order shipped to your home,” says Edward Jones-Lopez, MD, of Keck Medicine of USC.
This nasal spray vaccine especially appeals to people with a fear of needles, children, and those who find it difficult to travel for healthcare.
“I remember myself being afraid of needles as a child,” says Dr. Jones-Lopez. “I think most kids, if given a choice between an injection and a little fluid squirted up their nose, would prefer the spray.”
“I could see self-administration being welcomed in populations where traveling to a clinic or pharmacy is difficult,” adds Andrew Dwenger, PharmD, of University of Utah Health.
Although influenza leads to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year in the U.S., less than half the population receives an annual flu vaccine.
“Influenza kills tens of thousands of people every year,” says Dr. Muto. “It doesn’t matter what vaccine you pick, just please pick one to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
Protect your health and make getting vaccinated easier than ever—ask your healthcare provider if FluMist Home could be right for you.
