You can now vaccinate yourself — or your children — against the flu with a nasal spray. On September 20, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever at-home flu vaccine, allowing adults to administer the nasal spray vaccine, FluMist, to themselves or others. Previously, FluMist had only been available through health care providers since its initial approval in 2003. This change is significant for those who prefer avoiding needles.
So, what exactly is FluMist? This nasal spray vaccine, which has been around for nearly two decades, was originally approved for administration by pharmacists or qualified health care providers for individuals aged 5 to 49. The approval was later expanded to include children as young as 2 years old back in 2007. FluMist operates differently than the traditional flu shot; instead of containing killed or inactive virus, it has live-attenuated virus, meaning it's a weakened form of the virus, which won’t cause flu illness but still helps generate immunity.
Despite offering about the same level of effectiveness as the flu shot — approximately 45% for FluMist compared to the 40% to 60% range associated with injections — many people find nasal sprays an easier and more appealing option, especially for kids. The CDC recommends vaccinations every flu season, and having this at-home option might encourage more individuals to get vaccinated.
While excitement surrounds the at-home self-administration of FluMist, it won't be available for your medicine cabinet just yet. The FDA announced it should be accessible broadly for the next flu season, set to begin in 2025. Until then, people can still receive the nasal spray at pharmacies and doctors' offices, but administration must be done by trained professionals.
Yahoo Life reached out to the manufacturer, AstraZeneca, to inquire about specifics, but at press time had received no response. Some believe the delay relates to gathering data on how effectively individuals can self-administer the vaccine. Dr. Davey Smith, chief of infectious diseases at UC San Diego, emphasized the importance of ensuring proper self-administration techniques to assure safety and effectiveness.
FluMist is approved for anyone between the ages of 2 and 49. Dr. Smith expressed hopes for increased vaccination rates, especially for children and people who may feel anxious about needles. He stated, “I’m really hoping we can get more people vaccinated now with FluMist approved for home use.”
Though optimism is warranted, not everyone can take the FluMist. Specific eligibility criteria are still under scrutiny; it will likely include age restrictions to confirm users are between 2 and 49 years and rule out certain medications or health conditions. For example, flu vaccinations are not recommended for those under 2 years old, adults over 49, pregnant women, or individuals taking aspirin who fall between ages 2 to 17 due to potential risks like Reye’s syndrome.
Critically, the FDA has cautioned against the use of live-attenuated virus vaccines like FluMist for individuals with certain allergies, weakened immune systems, or chronic health conditions, as their immune responses may not effectively clear the mild virus from their system.
Despite the restrictions, experts assert FluMist is safe for the majority of the population. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, noted the live virus is cold-adapted, which means it effectively replicates itself at cooler temperatures, such as those found in the nasal passages, and does not reproduce effectively at the warmer temperatures of the core body. Therefore, it won't lead to flu infection.
Common side effects are similar to those previously experienced with the flu shot, including nasal congestion, runny nose, fever (notably among children aged 2 to 6), and sore throat for adults.
Administering FluMist is comparatively straightforward. According to Dr. Smith, the procedure is akin to using common nasal sprays like Flonase. For self-administration, the user inserts the sprayer nozzle inside one nostril, pushes the plunger to deliver the dose, and then repeats the process with the other nostril. AstraZeneca’s studies showed 100% success rates among adults who attempted self-administration, indicating high confidence levels for users.
For children or those who tend to shy away from needles, this process could potentially remove significant barriers to vaccination. Dr. Offit suggested, “The availability of FluMist for use at home should increase vaccine uptake. There’s no reason people shouldn’t be able to administer this vaccine intranasally without supervision.” He is hopeful the self-vaccination method could lead to improved flu vaccination rates, especially considering the decline observed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw vaccination coverage drop to around 50% last year.
While the home-use approval is still on the horizon, the anticipated rise of at-home vaccination through the FluMist nasal spray brings promise, especially for communities struggling with low vaccination rates. With easy administration and fewer barriers, families can look forward to tackling flu season head-on without the anxiety often linked to needles.
This new development highlights the importance of innovation within the healthcare sector as it meets public health needs directly. If more individuals can vaccinate themselves and their loved ones easily, we may see enhanced immunity against seasonal flu outbreaks. While data will continue to be collected and analyzed, the excitement for the at-home nasal spray FluMist indicates progress not just for convenience but for public health overall.
