First Nasal Self-Administered Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA
- By BSTQ Staff
The first influenza nasal spray vaccine that can be self-administered has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FluMist, manufactured by MedImmune, which was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2007, was first approved by FDA in 2003 for individuals between 5 and 49 years of age. Its approval has since been expanded to include children as young as 2 years old.
FluMist is the first flu vaccine that can be administered without a healthcare provider’s involvement. The spray contains a weakened form of flu virus strains and still requires a prescription. However, it can be administered by “the vaccine recipient or a caregiver who is 18 years of age or older.”
“Today’s approval of the first influenza vaccine for self- or caregiver-administration provides a new option for receiving a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine potentially with greater convenience, flexibility and accessibility for individuals and families,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
According the FDA, AstraZeneca plans to make FluMist available through a third-party online pharmacy.
References
Choi, J. FDA Approves First Self-Administered Flu Vaccine. The Hill, Sept. 20, 2024. Accessed at thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4891060-fda-approves-first-self-administered-flu-vaccine.
