(WXYZ) — There’s good news for people who don’t have much time to get a flu shot: The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first self-administered flu vaccine that can be administered at home.
This is great news for anyone who is afraid of needles, especially small children.
Currently, the only needle-free vaccine is FluMist, made by AstraZeneca. This is not a new vaccine and has been used safely for over 20 years. There are only two FDA-approved options: in-office and at-home.
FluMist is a live attenuated flu vaccine that contains a weakened flu virus but with modified ingredients so it cannot cause illness in healthy people. It is sprayed directly into the nose and helps the immune system recognize and fight off the flu virus without causing infection.
You won’t need to see a doctor to get the vaccine, but you will need a prescription. Here’s how it will work: AstraZeneca will make the vaccine available through third-party online pharmacies.
Those interested fill out a questionnaire, which the pharmacy reviews. If they are eligible, the pharmacy will write a prescription and the nasal spray will be shipped directly to their home.
But don’t expect this at-home option just yet: AstraZeneca says it expects the nasal spray to be ready in time for next year’s flu season.
The vaccine will be available to healthy people between the ages of two and 49. For children between the ages of two and 17, the nasal spray will need to be administered by a parent or guardian.
However, FluMist is not recommended for some groups, including:
People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, people with severe allergies to any component of the vaccine except egg proteins, people who have previously had a severe reaction to the influenza vaccine, and children aged 2 to 4 years with a history of asthma or wheezing within the past 12 months.
There are other underlying health conditions, so the screening process is very important.
The most commonly reported side effects are fever in children 2 to 6 years old, runny or stuffy nose in people 2 to 49 years old, and sore throat in adults.
An at-home version of FluMist won’t be available this year, but doctors’ offices and pharmacies will offer an in-office version along with other vaccine options.
Getting the flu vaccination is highly recommended – it’s the best way to protect yourself. Last year alone, influenza caused approximately 35 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths.
