AstraZeneca has issued its flu vaccine nasal spray for at-home use.
The nasal spray is authorized for use by adults ages 18-49 and for caregiver use with children ages 2-17, according to an Aug. 15 news release from the drugmaker. FluMist was initially approved by the FDA in 2003 to be given by healthcare providers and is the first seasonal influenza vaccine authorized for at-home use, the company said.
Last year, the FDA broadened the approval to make it the first self-use option for those who contract the virus.
Ordering FluMist online begins with a medical screening questionnaire reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider, and the service is covered by most commercial insurance plans with a shipping fee of $8.99, CNN reported Aug. 15.
The CDC reported that the most recent flu season was the most severe since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and the new at-home option is intended to increase vaccine accessibility, the release said.
