For the first time, many people in the US who want to protect themselves from the flu during this respiratory virus season can order a vaccine to give themselves at home.
AstraZeneca’s Flamist, the only US nasal spray influenza vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is now available for home delivery in 34 states under the Flamist Home brand name. It can be self-controlled by adults under the age of 50 and 2-year-old children with the help of parents or caregivers.
The online ordering platform includes a brief medical screening survey that is reviewed by licensed healthcare providers before prescribing a vaccine. It is covered by most commercial insurance, and costs a $8.99 fee for shipping and handling.
Flumist has been on the market for over 20 years and was first approved by the FDA in 2003. In September 2024, the FDA gave the nose spray vaccine a green light to be self-controlled, but was not ready to reach the public in time for the last respiratory virus season.
Experts say this new option for self-administration could be a useful tool that will help improve vaccination rates at critical times.
The last flu season was very intense and serious. Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that between October 2024 and May 2025 there were up to 82 million illnesses, 1.3 million hospitalizations and 130,000 deaths from the flu, but fewer than half of US children and adults had won the flu vaccine annually.
Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrician who co-supervises the vaccine development center at Texas Children’s Hospital, said the public is “more and more comfortable” with home management of drugs and biology, such as Covid-19 testing and GLP-1 injections.
“We learned how, amid Covid, how diagnostic tests in homes were widely accepted and that turned out to be a great public health intervention,” Hotez said. “Given the low intake of seasonal influenza vaccines in the US, I think it’s worth exploring some new approaches.”
Elizabeth Bodine, vice president of AstraZeneca’s US respiratory immunological vaccines and immunotherapy team, said removal of as many barriers as possible is key due to the rise of vaccine hesitancy and other challenges.
“There are many reasons why patients may not be vaccinated, but one of them could be a practical factor in booking an appointment, convenience, and being able to see a doctor,” she said. “You can make your order of Flamist online with a few clicks, and have it reviewed by your healthcare provider to make sure it is suitable for you and your family and deliver it to your front door.
Presented to the FDA for approval of the Framist Home, Astrazeneca included a “useability study” that showed that no healthcare provider could be used properly. The results showed that 100% of intended users administered the full dose, according to the drug company.
Focusing on patient-centered care creates a pathway for people to play a leading role in their health care, Boudin said.
“The population I see benefits most from the Flamist home are busy, convenient people and busy families,” she said. “They may be preparing for the return season to school, and that’s one item on their to-do list, to book clinic visits or pharmacy visits.
Vaccines that people can self-administer at home have the same vials, the same vaccine formulations and the same efficacy as the full mist used by healthcare providers, AstraZeneca said.
The vaccine is mailed in a temperature controlled package with a tag that patients scan to ensure that the vaccine remains at the right temperature throughout the shipping process. The vial contains two pre-measured doses. One is squirted into each nostril and separated by clips. There are various materials to support those who have questions.
Flamist is the only needle-free option available for influenza vaccination in the United States. Although they use live, weakened versions of the flu virus to provide protection, injectable flu vaccines use different technologies. Kill viruses or proteins to train the immune system to fight viruses. Astrazeneca says flamists have been shown to be as effective as other influenza vaccines.
According to the FDA, the most commonly reported side effects of flamist are not only runny nose and congestion, but also fever in young children and sore throats in adults.
FDA Published Recommendations For the composition of the March 2025-2026 influenza vaccine, And Boudin says the Flamist home is “ready to target” the virus that is likely to affect Americans the most in coming season.
