Flu Vaccination at Home: A Possible Option for the Next Season

 Flu Vaccination at Home: A Possible Option for the Next Season

In the upcoming flu season, there might be a convenient way to get your flu shot from the comfort of your home. AstraZeneca, the drugmaker, announced that it's seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its nasal spray flu vaccine, FluMist, to be self-administered at home. If granted, this would mark the first flu vaccine approved for self-administration.

FluMist, the sole nasal spray flu vaccine available, has been on the US market since 2003. AstraZeneca has requested that adults between the ages of 18 to 49, and even children as young as 2, be allowed to self-administer the vaccine. They have supported this request with a "usability study" indicating that individuals can correctly use the vaccine without the need for a healthcare provider's presence.

Should the FDA approve this change, patients would be able to order the vaccine via an online pharmacy system, which would then be delivered to their homes in temperature-controlled packaging, according to Dr. Lisa Glasser from AstraZeneca.

The potential benefit of self-administered flu vaccines is increased accessibility. While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that everyone aged 6 months and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine, less than half of Americans actually do. AstraZeneca's Dr. Glasser highlighted that the pandemic has shown that people can take more responsibility for their healthcare, as seen with self-administered nasal swab tests.

The FDA is expected to make a decision regarding the approval of self-administration of FluMist in the first quarter of the next year. If granted, AstraZeneca anticipates offering FluMist for self-administration during the 2024-2025 flu season. It will still be available through traditional channels, like administration at doctors' offices or pharmacies.

Although physicians welcome the possibility of a more accessible flu vaccine, it is unlikely to dramatically impact vaccination rates. Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, pointed out that documentation would be vital to prevent patients from mistakenly receiving multiple doses or falsely claiming to have been vaccinated. AstraZeneca intends to provide a practical method for documentation, both for patients and healthcare professionals.

The online ordering system will also serve as a means of preventing the vaccine from being used by individuals for whom it is not suitable. The CDC specifies that FluMist is not indicated for those with weakened immune systems and is only intended for individuals aged 2 to 49.

FluMist employs a live, weakened influenza virus to provide flu protection, while injectable vaccines use different technologies. AstraZeneca maintains that FluMist is equally effective as other flu vaccines.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health and the former White House Covid-19 response coordinator, believes that making self-administered flu vaccines available for purchase in pharmacies, rather than through a gatekeeper, could enhance accessibility. He also noted that approximately 10 to 15% of people may have needle phobias and reluctance to get vaccines. Increasing access to needle-free versions could boost vaccine uptake.

In the event that the FDA approves this change, Dr. Jha anticipates a modest impact. However, he hopes it will lead to greater awareness through increased marketing from AstraZeneca or more research into additional intranasal vaccines that are easier to obtain. It is seen as a positive step towards making flu vaccines more accessible.

In the upcoming flu season, there might be a convenient way to get your flu shot from the comfort of your home. AstraZeneca, the drugmaker, announced that it's seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its nasal spray flu vaccine, FluMist, to be self-administered at home. If granted, this would mark the first flu vaccine approved for self-administration.

FluMist, the sole nasal spray flu vaccine available, has been on the US market since 2003. AstraZeneca has requested that adults between the ages of 18 to 49, and even children as young as 2, be allowed to self-administer the vaccine. They have supported this request with a "usability study" indicating that individuals can correctly use the vaccine without the need for a healthcare provider's presence.

Should the FDA approve this change, patients would be able to order the vaccine via an online pharmacy system, which would then be delivered to their homes in temperature-controlled packaging, according to Dr. Lisa Glasser from AstraZeneca.

The potential benefit of self-administered flu vaccines is increased accessibility. While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that everyone aged 6 months and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine, less than half of Americans actually do. AstraZeneca's Dr. Glasser highlighted that the pandemic has shown that people can take more responsibility for their healthcare, as seen with self-administered nasal swab tests.

The FDA is expected to make a decision regarding the approval of self-administration of FluMist in the first quarter of the next year. If granted, AstraZeneca anticipates offering FluMist for self-administration during the 2024-2025 flu season. It will still be available through traditional channels, like administration at doctors' offices or pharmacies.

Although physicians welcome the possibility of a more accessible flu vaccine, it is unlikely to dramatically impact vaccination rates. Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, pointed out that documentation would be vital to prevent patients from mistakenly receiving multiple doses or falsely claiming to have been vaccinated. AstraZeneca intends to provide a practical method for documentation, both for patients and healthcare professionals.

The online ordering system will also serve as a means of preventing the vaccine from being used by individuals for whom it is not suitable. The CDC specifies that FluMist is not indicated for those with weakened immune systems and is only intended for individuals aged 2 to 49.

FluMist employs a live, weakened influenza virus to provide flu protection, while injectable vaccines use different technologies. AstraZeneca maintains that FluMist is equally effective as other flu vaccines.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health and the former White House Covid-19 response coordinator, believes that making self-administered flu vaccines available for purchase in pharmacies, rather than through a gatekeeper, could enhance accessibility. He also noted that approximately 10 to 15% of people may have needle phobias and reluctance to get vaccines. Increasing access to needle-free versions could boost vaccine uptake.

In the event that the FDA approves this change, Dr. Jha anticipates a modest impact. However, he hopes it will lead to greater awareness through increased marketing from AstraZeneca or more research into additional intranasal vaccines that are easier to obtain. It is seen as a positive step towards making flu vaccines more accessible.