Soon you may be able to give yourself your flu vaccine at home
In a statement, the FDA said that MedImmune, the maker of FluMist, plans to offer the vaccine through a third-party pharmacy.
People interested in the self or caregiver option will complete a screening and eligibility assessment when they order the vaccine. If eligibility is established, the pharmacy writes the prescription and ships the vaccine to the person who placed the order.
Then the vaccine is given at the household's convenience.
The FDA recommends that a caregiver administer FluMist to those ages 2 to 17
years old.
Convenient and accessible
Peter Marks, MD, PhD, who directs the FDA's Center for
Biologics Evaluation and Research, said the approval gives people a new option
for receiving a safe, effective flu vaccine that is more convenient, flexible,
and accessible. “"Getting vaccinated each year is the best way to prevent
influenza, which causes illness in a substantial proportion of the U.S.
population every year and may result in serious complications, including
hospitalization and death," he said.
FluMist is the only needle-free seasonal flu vaccine option
in the United States and is given intranasally. In use since 2003, the vaccine
contains a weakened form of live virus strains. It is approved for
use in people ages 2 through 49 years old. MedImmune is part of AstraZeneca,
which filed
for FDA approval of self- or caregiver-administration of FluMist
in October 2023.
