Fear of needles and logistical hurdles are just two reasons why some people may skip their annual flu shot. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed these hurdles by approving at-home use of FluMist®, an influenza vaccine administered by nasal spray.
Flumist, made by AstraZeneca, is expected to be available for home use from autumn 2025 and is approved for people aged 2 to 49 (the vaccine will not help prevent influenza in people over 50). It is strongly recommended that health professionals receive an annual influenza vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza causes up to 41 million illnesses, 710,000 hospitalizations, and 51,000 deaths each year.
“Having this vaccine available for home use is a great step for public health purposes,” says Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease expert at Yale Medicine. “There will always be patients who don’t get vaccinated because they can’t get to the clinic or don’t care about the vaccine. If they could self-administer this at home, that would increase the proportion of people who get the flu shot. I think it’s only going to increase. Plus, it’s the only option that doesn’t involve needles, so it’s helpful for patients who have needle phobia or doctor phobia.”
FluMist contains live, attenuated influenza virus strains A and B that are sprayed into the nose. Before it was first approved by the FDA in 2003 and approved for home use, it was only administered by health care professionals in medical settings (including pharmacies).
A prescription is required for use at home. Starting in fall 2025, individuals will be able to obtain one by visiting the FluMist website and entering information to determine eligibility. If applicable, the pharmacist will give approval and the vaccine will be shipped. Caregivers must administer the vaccine to people between the ages of 2 and 18.
Below, we talk more with Dr. Roberts about FluMist as a nasal spray vaccine for home use.
