The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a nasally administered flu shot that can be given at home. FluMist – a nasal spray vaccine originally developed by AstraZeneca two decades ago as an in-office treatment – still requires a prescription and should be available next year, according to a new online pharmacy. The New York Times.
For the treatment, patients must complete a questionnaire on the upcoming FlueMist Home website. After approval by a pharmacist, the nasal spray is delivered directly to the customer's door. The current cost price is, according to the NYTHowever, this may decrease depending on the insurance coverage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found FluMist to be similarly effective to the traditional shot. It has been available through healthcare providers since it was first approved by the FDA in 2003. It is for people ages 2 to 49 – but the FDA recommends that the nasal spray be administered by a parent/caregiver for people under 18. The spray could be an alternative for people who are uncomfortable with needles or who otherwise find it difficult or inconvenient to travel for a flu shot.
“Today's authorization of the first self-administered or caregiver-administered flu vaccine provides a new way to receive a safe and effective seasonal flu vaccine that may be more convenient, flexible and accessible for individuals and families,” said FDA Immunization Center Director Dr. Peter Marks. The World Health Organization reports that there are about one billion cases of seasonal flu annually, resulting in 290,000 to 650,000 deaths from respiratory disease each year.