AstraZeneca launches 1st at-home flu vaccine

AstraZeneca has issued its flu vaccine nasal spray for at-home use. 

The nasal spray is authorized for use by adults ages 18-49 and for caregiver use with children ages 2-17, according to an Aug. 15 news release from the drugmaker. FluMist was initially approved by the FDA in 2003 and is the first seasonal influenza vaccine authorized for at-home use, the company said. 

Ordering FluMist online begins with a medical screening questionnaire reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider, and the service is covered by most commercial insurance plans with a shipping fee of $8.99, CNN reported Aug. 15. 

The CDC reported that the most recent flu season was the most severe since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and the new at-home option is intended to increase vaccine accessibility, the release said. 

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