At-Home Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine to Launch in 2025

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A new nasal spray flu vaccine is set to hit the market for home use by the fall of 2025, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its approval of AstraZeneca's FluMist. This development marks a significant shift in how flu vaccines can be administered, as FluMist will be the first flu vaccine available for direct consumer use without the need for a healthcare provider.

 

The introduction of this needle-free, at-home option is expected to improve flu vaccination rates, which have been declining in recent years. The convenience of being able to self-administer the vaccine at home may encourage more people to get vaccinated, as it eliminates the need for a doctor's appointment or pharmacy visit. However, FluMist will still be available through traditional healthcare providers for those who prefer it. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, highlighted the benefits of this new option, stating that it offers "greater convenience, flexibility, and accessibility for individuals and families." 

 

Experts agree that this added convenience is important. "Each year, influenza poses a significant burden for people, society, and health systems; additional tools to increase access to vaccinations, while also reducing disparities, are critical," said Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, an infectious diseases expert at Northwestern University. 

 

FluMist itself is not new—it has been on the market since the FDA first approved it in 2003 for people aged 5 to 49, and later extended to children as young as 2. The nasal spray contains weakened versions of influenza strains and works by stimulating the immune system to build resistance to the virus. 

 

The direct-to-consumer (D2C) model for the new at-home version of FluMist involves an online pharmacy that will determine patient eligibility, write prescriptions, and ship the vaccine directly to homes. For children under 18, AstraZeneca and the FDA recommend that a caregiver administer the spray.

 

The potential success of this new offering will depend on whether it can actually increase flu vaccine uptake. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about 47% of adults received a flu vaccine during the most recent flu season, and vaccination rates have been declining since 2020. Despite this, the threat of the flu remains high, with an estimated 54 million flu cases and up to 650,000 hospitalizations during the 2022-2023 season.

 

As the at-home FluMist becomes available, many will be watching closely to see if it provides a meaningful boost to flu vaccination rates across the country.

 

Based on a report from: AXIOS 2024-09-25