The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the nasal spray flu vaccine for use at home, which can be administered by oneself without the help of a health care provider.
AstraZeneca's FluMist nasal spray is now approved for home use to prevent influenza infections caused by subtypes A and B in people aged 2 to 49 years. years of prescription use in healthcare settings.
“Today's 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 bringing greater convenience, flexibility and access to individuals and families. sex,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the center. FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Press release.
“Yearly vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza, which sickens a significant proportion of the U.S. population each year and can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization and death. This approval adds another avenue for vaccination against influenza disease. an option and demonstrates the FDA's commitment to promoting public health,” Dr. Marks said.
The flu affects people of all ages and may cause symptoms such as body aches, fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness, and congestion or runny nose. Although many people recover within a few days after a mild infection, the flu can pose serious risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions. For those at higher risk, complications can escalate, possibly leading to hospitalization or even death.
According to reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2010 to 2023, influenza causes 9.3 million to 41 million illnesses, 100,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations, and 4,900 to 51,000 deaths each year. Getting the flu vaccine is the best recommended strategy to reduce the risk of serious infection and hospitalization.
FluMist contains a weakened, live strain of influenza virus and is available as a nasal spray. Although the new approval allows for home use and use in medical settings such as pharmacies, a prescription is still required to obtain FluMist.
For home use, the nasal spray can be self-administered by individuals 18 years and older, while caregivers over 18 must administer FluMist to children ages 2 to 17, as they should not self-administer the vaccine. The vaccine manufacturer plans to offer FluMist through third-party online pharmacies. When ordering, individuals will need to complete a screening and eligibility assessment. If assessed as eligible, the pharmacy will fill a prescription and ship the vaccine to the address provided so that the shot can be administered at the recipient's convenience.
According to the FDA, the most common side effects of FluMist include fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in children 2 to 6 years old, runny and stuffy nose in individuals 2 to 49 years old, and sore throat in adults.
“Improving vaccination rates is a strategy to increase immunization rates. I anticipate that parents and pediatricians will have many questions about self-administered intranasal influenza vaccine. The AAP and COID look forward to reviewing the data on this product and taking it into consideration. AAP Infectious Diseases Committee “We will take this into consideration when developing our annual flu vaccine recommendations in the spring,” said Kristina A. Bryant, Ph.D., a member of (COID) and lead author of the AAP influenza policy statement and technical report. ” Press release.