Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Medical Advisory Board
Millions of Americans experience a significant fear of needles and injections. It’s estimated that ten percent of people in U. S. are affected by this phobia. If you are a trypanophobiac, FDA has some welcome news for you.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration on September 20, 2024, approved AstraZeneca’s nasal flu spray-FluMist vaccine for influenza that people can administer to themselves, or caregivers can administer it to them at-home. You don’t need a healthcare provider to administer this nasal spray influenza vaccine, You do need a prescription from a doctor’s office to get FluMist.
The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine) has been used safely and effectively for many years. Presently, the vaccine has to be administered by a health care professional. But this first “at-home” option of becoming vaccinated against the influenza virus offers people greater convenience, and optimistically more people will become vaccinated during the fall flu season.
The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use in people from two to 49 years of age. After the age of 50 it’s not as effective compared to other recommended vaccines. Children younger than two years of age are more susceptible to wheezing and shortness of breath.
People with weakened immune systems should not use FluMist since it contains live flu viruses which the weakened immune system may not be strong enough to fight off the flu viruses in the vaccine. Although severe allergic reactions in people with egg allergy is unlikely, it’s reasonable to prefer the flu shot. Other individuals who should not get the vaccine include pregnant women, children and teenagers who get aspirin therapy, and as noted, children under two, and adults 50 and older.
FluMist is not new. In 2003 the FDA approved the use of this nasal spray flu vaccine, but it had to be administered by a health care provider. In the not too distant future, you or a caregiver can administer the nasal spray flu vaccine at home. Presently, your health care professional can provide you with the nasal flu vaccine that aims to protect you against type A and B viruses.
Overall, the influenza vaccine typically reduces the risk of flu illness by 40% to 60% during the flu seasons. Although the flu vaccine is not 100% effective in preventing flu, if you do get the flu, the vaccine can help to lessen the severity of your symptoms and lower your risk for hospitalization and death.
Every year influenza continues to burden Americans with millions of flu illnesses, millions of medical visits to your doctor, hundreds of thousands of flu hospitalizations, and thousands of flu deaths. The at-home safe, simple, effective nasal flu vaccine, a needle free option, may help reverse this trend.
Addendum
The FDA approved the nasal spray flu vaccine for self-administration in September 2024 with the convenience to get the vaccine shipped to your door. But this at home version of the vaccine won’t be available to be delivered to homes until next year’s flu season (2025).
References
- FDA; FDA Approves Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccine for Self- or Caregiver-Administration; September 20, 2024
- AstraZeneca; FluMist approved for self-administration in the U. S.; September 20, 2024
- CDC; Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV] (The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine); August 25, 2022
This article is intended solely as a learning experience. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options.