You Can Now Give Your self a Flu Vaccine At Dwelling. What You Must Know Earlier than Attempting

FluMist, a nasal spray model of the flu vaccine, is now accessible for many individuals for house supply. The vaccine different has been utilized in clinics for years and was accepted by the Meals and Drug Administration for at-home use in 2024.

“It’s the identical vaccine because the one that you simply get within the healthcare setting,” a spokesperson from AstraZeneca, the producer, advised Well being. “The distinction is solely that it’s shipped to your door at a time of your selecting and [it comes with] applicable steerage round easy methods to take it successfully.” 

Right here’s what to find out about FluMist—and whether or not docs suggest it over the normal flu shot.

Like in-office FluMist, the at-home model—referred to as FluMist Dwelling—is accepted for most individuals ages 2 to 49. It’s accessible for supply this flu season in 34 states.

Not like conventional flu pictures, which comprise inactive influenza, the nasal spray features a weakened model of the dwell virus. “Once you get the nasal spray within the nostril, it’s a dwell virus that’s been tamed so it simply stays within the nostril and may’t get down into the lung and trigger influenza,” William Schaffner, MD, a professor of preventive drugs and infectious ailments at Vanderbilt College, advised Well being.

You may retailer FluMist in your fridge till you’re prepared to make use of it. To manage it, it’s a must to spray about half of the pre-filled bottle into every nostril.

“The largest benefit is comfort,” Schaffner stated. “A guardian doesn’t must take their kids to the pediatrician’s workplace or a public well being clinic to get the vaccine. It places the ability within the palms of the affected person.” 

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention didn’t suggest FluMist for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 flu seasons as a result of research confirmed it wasn’t as efficient as the normal flu shot at defending in opposition to H1N1, a pressure of influenza A that precipitated the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Since then, nevertheless, AstraZeneca up to date FluMist with new components that higher goal that particular virus. 

However in accordance with Asha Okay. Shah, MD, MS, the director of infectious ailments and hospital epidemiologist at Stamford Well being, there have been “restricted effectiveness estimates” in the USA relating to FluMist. “Based mostly on information from different nations,” she advised Well being, “safety from the nasal spray vaccine is much like that of normal inactivated flu vaccine in kids.”

That’s particularly the case for youngsters eight and youthful, Schaffner stated. “Past that, it’s much less sure,” he agreed.

It’s additionally essential to remember that the effectiveness of any flu vaccine relies on how effectively the strains match those circulating that individual season. Even when the strains are effectively matched, the normal flu vaccine solely reduces the chance of sickness by about 40% to 60%.

In accordance with the FDA, the commonest unwanted effects of FluMist are: 

Fever over 100°F in kids ages 2 by 6
Runny nostril and nasal congestion 
Sore throat in adults 

FluMist is “a miracle of contemporary science, however it might trigger a little bit little bit of a runny nostril and sore throat,” Schaffner stated.

To obtain FluMist, you could order it on-line from AstraZeneca. After filling out details about your medical historical past and insurance coverage (if relevant), a healthcare supplier opinions the knowledge and determines in the event you’re eligible to obtain the vaccine.

Per AstraZeneca, FluMist is free underneath most business insurance coverage, however you’re required to pay a processing and cargo payment of $8.99.

It’s finest to seek the advice of your physician to find out in the event you or a liked one is an effective match for FluMist. 

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends that sure individuals not use FluMist, together with:

Youngsters aged 2 to 4 with bronchial asthma or a historical past of wheezing up to now yr
Youngsters aged 2 to 17 taking salicylate- or aspirin-containing regimens
Those that are immunocompromised, have cerebrospinal fluid leaks, or have cochlear implants

For all different adults, the normal flu vaccine can be extra applicable—however as a result of it’s been proven to be simpler, stated Shah.

Nonetheless, Shah doesn’t low cost FluMist solely. It “could also be a very good choice in wholesome sufferers who’ve an aversion to needles or might have boundaries to receiving an in-office conventional flu vaccination,” she advised Well being. “It’s higher to get a FluMist vaccine than no flu vaccine in any respect.”