The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that it has approved First flu vaccine in nasal sprayFluMist, produced by AstraZeneca, which patients can self-administer without professional help.
FluMist contains a weakened form of live strains of the influenza virus that is sprayed into the nasal passages, making it the first can be self-administered or be administered by a professional.
Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement that the approval of This drug offers “a new option” to receive a safe and effective seasonal flu vaccine that is more convenient, flexible and accessible for individuals and families.
Flu is a disease common and contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that normally circulates in the United States in the fall and winter.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza has caused 9.3 and 41 million cases each year between 2010 and 2023. During this same period, between 100,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 4,900 and 51,000 deaths were recorded each year due to this disease.
The FDA said patients will need a prescription to get FluMist and that minors ages two to 17 should not self-administer the vaccine but should receive it from a caregiver. This nasal spray flu vaccine option is expected to be available in 2025.
