(CNN) – For the first time this flu season, many Americans will have the option to give themselves the flu vaccine.
FluMist is now approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use at home, and it can be ordered online.
It is the only nasal spray flu vaccine in the U.S.
FluMist can be self-administered by adults under 50, and can be given to children as young as 2.
“It’s delivered with cold packs in a cold chain shipping model and actually one of the great steps is when you receive your dose, there’s a temperature tag that gets scanned to ensure that it’s stayed in the right temperature throughout the entire shipping process and that it’s safe and ready to use.” Elizabeth Bodin with AstraZeneca said.
The vaccine nasal spray is now available for home delivery in 34 states.
It can be ordered online after a brief medical screening questionnaire, which will be reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider before the vaccine is prescribed.
It is covered by most commercial insurance with a fee $8.99 for shipping and handling.
“It’s quite easy to administer. All they do is take it out of its packaging, put it into one nostril, spray the device, remove a clip from the middle, and then spray it into the other nostril,” Bodin said.
Last flu season was unusually severe.
Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that between October 2024 and May 2025, there were up to 82 million illnesses, 1.3 million hospitalizations and 130,000 deaths from the flu at the same time.
The CDC said less than half of kids and adults in the U.S. had gotten an annual flu vaccine.
“Knowing that they can bring FluMist home right into their home and vaccinate on their schedule, the time they want, no waiting in line, makes it very manageable,” Bodin said.
FluMist manufacturer AstraZeneca said this vaccine has been on the market for more than 20 years and is safe and effective. This is just the first time it is approved for self-administration at home.
You can learn more, including how to order the vaccine at FluMist.com.
Copyright 2025 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.