Getting a flu shot just got a whole lot easier! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of FluMist, a nasal spray influenza vaccine, for at-home use. This means that individuals ages 18 to 49 can now administer the vaccine themselves, simply by spraying it up their own nose. For children and adolescents ages 2 to 17, caregivers can administer the spray.
This new approval is a major step forward in making flu vaccination more convenient, flexible, and accessible. Previously, FluMist, the only non-injected flu vaccine available in the US, could only be administered by healthcare professionals in settings like pharmacies and doctor’s offices. Clinical trial data showed that FluMist was easy for individuals to self-administer and equally safe and effective as when administered by healthcare professionals.
The CDC strongly recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year, ideally between September and October before the flu starts spreading widely. This new option for self-administered FluMist could make it easier for people to get vaccinated and protect themselves from the flu.
FluMist works by containing weakened versions of influenza A and B viruses, which cannot cause the flu but instead prime the immune system to produce antibodies against future infections. The vaccine is packaged in a small tube with a plunger, and one spray is administered in each nostril.
While the FDA has approved FluMist for at-home use, it will take some time for the vaccine to become available for home delivery. AstraZeneca, the vaccine’s maker, anticipates it will be available through a third-party online pharmacy service in time for the 2025-2026 flu season. However, a prescription from an online pharmacist will be required to order the vaccine.
It’s important to note that some individuals should not get FluMist, including pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, as the vaccine contains live (albeit weakened) viruses. Despite this, the new approval of FluMist for at-home use offers a promising step towards making needle-free flu vaccination options accessible to a wider population.
This development has also sparked hope for the future of nasal vaccines. Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious diseases expert, believes this could inspire pharmaceutical companies to pursue the development of nasal vaccines for other respiratory infections, such as COVID-19.
