Self-administered Flu vaccine

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday the approval of the first self-administered flu vaccine, delivered as a nasal spray rather than an injection.

FluMist, produced by MedImmune and acquired by AstraZeneca in 2007, was initially approved in 2003 for people aged five to 49, with its use later expanded to children as young as two.

This latest approval marks FluMist as the first flu vaccine that individuals can administer without the need for a healthcare provider. The nasal spray contains a weakened version of flu virus strains and still requires a prescription. It can be given by either the recipient or a caregiver aged 18 or older.

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Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, stated, “This approval provides a new option for a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine, enhancing convenience and accessibility for families.”

AstraZeneca intends to offer FluMist through a third-party online pharmacy, where individuals will undergo a screening and eligibility assessment when placing an order. If deemed eligible, the pharmacy will prescribe and ship the vaccine directly to the purchaser's address.

Iskra Reic, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of vaccines and immune therapies, remarked that the approval is a significant advancement in making vaccines more accessible to combat the high annual rates of influenza.

Flu vaccination rates in the U.S. have been declining since the COVID-19 pandemic, falling below 50 percent during the 2022-2023 flu season.