The FDA has approved a new flu vaccine for home use, the first flu vaccine ever made, which will be available for home use starting next year.
People who want to protect themselves will have a new option this coming flu season: a self-administered flu vaccine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a home flu vaccine that people can order and administer at home to themselves and their family members, without having to go to the doctor.
The nasal vaccine itself has been available in the United States for several years (FluMist), but this is the first time that it can be administered by a person themselves without visiting a medical institution.
Meet our experts: William Schaffner, MD, infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; David Diemert, MD, professor of medicine at George Washington University and director of the GW Vaccine Research Unit
So what is the new home flu vaccine and why do we need it? Here’s why.
What is the new home flu vaccine?
The new home flu vaccine is called “FluMist,” a nasal flu vaccine that has been FDA-approved for use in healthcare settings for many years.
How does the new home flu vaccine work?
FluMist is a live-attenuated flu vaccine, which uses a weakened flu virus. (Flu shots, by contrast, do not use a live flu virus.) This weakened virus “can grow at nasal temperatures but not body temperatures, limiting its ability to spread in the body,” explains David Diemert, MD, professor of medicine at George Washington University and director of the GW Vaccine Research Unit. “It works primarily by stimulating an immune response to the flu virus in the nose and upper respiratory tract,” Dr. Diemert continues. “This allows it to block the virus if someone is exposed to it and prevent infection.”
How can I administer the flu vaccine at home?
FluMist is administered by spraying one into each nostril. To use, place the tip just inside your nostril and press down on the plunger, then repeat on the other side.
“It’s very simple,” says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Of note: If you want to receive FluMist at a medical facility, you can still do so.
How effective are home flu vaccines?
We have some history with the FluMist vaccine and its effectiveness. Prior to the 2009 influenza pandemic, the vaccine was a popular choice. However, several studies conducted after the 2009 pandemic in children ages 2 to 17 found that, according to the FDA, the nasal spray vaccine was effective against influenza B and influenza A(H3N2) viruses, but was less effective than the influenza vaccine against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus.
As a result, public health officials recommended against using the nasal spray vaccine for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, but the manufacturer of FluMist has since used a new influenza A(H1N1) vaccine virus component that appears to provide similar protection as the flu vaccine.
While exact effectiveness varies by year, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that for all influenza vaccines (intranasal and injection), the 2023-2024 influenza vaccine was 42% effective at preventing influenza, the 2022-2023 vaccine was 30% effective, and the 2021-2022 vaccine was 36% effective.
Keep in mind that these numbers only reflect whether or not you actually get the flu; they don’t usually take into account that the vaccine prevents serious complications from the flu, Dr. Schaffner says.
Can I get this wrong?
It’s very difficult to give the vaccine by mistake. “It’s very easy to use,” Dr. Schaffner says. “We’ve done the studies so that the FDA can approve it for use in adults, and we have confidence that it can be given safely and appropriately to adults, and that it can also be given to young children.”
“The vaccine is very easy to administer,” Dr. Diemert says, “just a spray into each nostril. But there’s always the concern that someone might not administer it properly and not be protected against the flu.”
Why is this necessary?
The number of people getting vaccinated against the flu in the U.S. over the past few years has not been high. The CDC estimates that only about 47% of U.S. adults will get the flu vaccine during the 2023-2024 season, which is not ideal. Dr. Schaffner says he hopes that the at-home flu vaccine will actually encourage more people to get their flu shot.
“It’s interesting, it’s exciting, it could be inspiring,” he said, “and it could encourage people who don’t want to get vaccinated to get vaccinated.”
Who can get the new household flu vaccine?
FluMist is designed for people between the ages of 2 and 49. However, there are a few caveats.
Who should not use the new home flu vaccine?
According to the CDC, FluMist should not be used by pregnant women or people with certain medical conditions, including:
Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine (except egg proteins) or to a previous dose of the influenza vaccine. Children between the ages of 2 and 17 who are taking medicines containing aspirin or salicylate. Children between the ages of 2 and 4 who have asthma or have had wheezing within the past 12 months. Anyone with a weakened immune system for any reason. Anyone caring for a severely immunocompromised person who requires a protected environment (or avoid contact with such people for 7 days after receiving the nasal spray vaccine). Anyone who has no spleen, or a non-functioning spleen. Anyone with an active leak between cerebrospinal fluid and the mouth, nose, ears, or other places in the skull. Anyone using a cochlear implant. Anyone who has taken influenza antiviral drugs within a certain period of time (within the past 48 hours for oseltamivir and zanamivir, within the past 5 days for peramivir, and within the past 17 days for baloxavir).
Potential Side Effects of the New Home Flu Vaccine
There are several potential side effects to using the new home flu vaccines. According to the FDA, the most common side effects are:
Fever in children aged 2 to 6 years, runny and stuffy nose in people aged 2 to 49 years, and sore throat in adults aged 18 to 49 years
Will there be a new home flu vaccine available for purchase?
Yes, people can buy the new home flu vaccine, but it’s not clear at this time whether health insurance will cover it.
AstraZeneca, which makes FluMist, plans to make the vaccine available through third-party online pharmacies. To get the vaccine, people will need to complete a screening and eligibility assessment. If eligible, the pharmacy will write a prescription for the vaccine and ship it to them.
FluMist is not available for home use this flu season, but is expected to be available next year. For now, you can get the intranasal flu vaccine or shot at your local health care provider or pharmacy.
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