US approves first self-administered nasal spray flu vaccine

The vaccine is produced by AstraZeneca / Reference Photo

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that it has approved the first nasal spray flu vaccine, FluMist, produced by AstraZeneca, which patients can self-administer without the help of a professional.

FluMist contains a weakened form of live strains of the flu virus that is sprayed into the nostrils, making it the first that can be self-administered or administered by a professional.

The director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, said in a statement that the approval of this drug provides “a new option” for receiving a safe, effective seasonal flu vaccine that is more convenient, flexible and accessible for individuals and families.

Influenza is a common and contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that typically circulates in the U.S. during the fall and winter.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza has caused between 9.3 and 41 million cases each year from 2010 to 2023. During that same period, there have been between 100,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 4,900 and 51,000 deaths each year due to the disease.

The FDA said patients will need a prescription to get FluMist, and that children ages 2 to 17 should not self-administer the vaccine but should get it from a caregiver.

The nasal spray flu vaccine option is expected to be available in 2025.

Los Angeles / EFE