NEW YORK — Getting an annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself from infection and serious complications, but the reality is that not everyone enjoys the shot.
Now there’s potentially good news for those who are afraid of needles: A nasal spray flu vaccine that can be taken or injected at home is coming, HealthDay News reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering applying for FluMist, an anti-flu biologic nasal spray from AstraZeneca, for home use. The nebulizer has been on the market since 2003, but now the drug company is asking the FDA to allow adults ages 18 to 49 to self-inject the vaccine or give it to children and teens ages 2 to 17. Lisa Glasser, AstraZeneca’s director of infectious disease medical affairs for the vaccine, said the FDA expects to make a decision in the first months of 2024.
If approved, FluMist will be available for the 2024-2025 flu season.
“Self-administered FluMist can increase access to flu vaccination outside of traditional settings, providing a convenient option for busy parents and caregivers of eligible family members,” he noted.
Studies show that the nasal spray vaccine can be used by people over 18 years of age and can be given to others as directed without any additional guidance. Additionally, Glasser said the nasal vaccine is just as effective as other types of flu shots. “Our goal is to enable eligible patients to order FluMist Quadrivalent directly from online partners and have it delivered to their homes,” he added.
However, not everyone should use the nasal flu vaccine.
People who are allergic to eggs or any of the inactive ingredients in biological products, and people who have had a life-threatening reaction to the flu vaccine, should not receive the vaccine.
Because it is a live vaccine, children under two and people with weakened immune systems should also avoid it. The nasal flu vaccine is also not as effective as other vaccines in people over 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Otto Young, an immunologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, believes an at-home nasal flu vaccine could save lives.
“There is a lot of needle phobia in the community, and a simple nasal spray that can be used in the privacy of home may help address the fears of people who don’t like injections.”
Overall, the nasal vaccine appears to be very safe, Yang added.
He added that there are some drawbacks to the vaccine, noting that “the vaccine is a live, weakened virus, so it cannot be used by young children or people with weakened immune systems.” The flu vaccine is not a live vaccine, Yang explained , so it can be used safely by more people.
Meanwhile, there is a strong push for the idea of people getting a Covid-19 booster vaccine and a flu jab at the same time.
“If Covid-19 and flu vaccines were administered simultaneously on an annual schedule, fewer people would receive the Covid-19 vaccine because they would not have to go to a pharmacy or doctor’s office to get the flu vaccine,” Yang noted.
Dr. Len Horowitz, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in Northwell, New York City, is a big supporter of the annual flu shot, but he’s on the fence about getting the nasal vaccine at home. “It can give you a cold that you can then pass on to other people, which is the point against it.”
Additionally, some active ingredients may drip from the nose.
“It’s not like getting a shot where you know exactly how much vaccine was given,” Horowitz explained. “It’s easy to walk into a pharmacy and get a shot, so I’m not sure the benefit outweighs the disadvantage of possibly not getting a full dose or catching a cold.”