(NewsNation) — The FDA has approved an at-home flu vaccine produced by AstraZeneca which can be acquired from online pharmacies.
FluMist, a nasal spray vaccine, can be self-administered and is approved for two-year-olds up to 49-year-olds. It has to be prescribed before purchase.
The vaccine has been available since 2003 but is now more widely available. It is currently the only self-administered flu vaccine on the market.
“It gives you that little bit of flu exposure which enables you to mount an effective immune response. And it may be an alternative for people who do not want the shot,” Dr. Monica Ghandi told “NewsNation Live” on Sunday.
“Where it’s going to be useful is for children, because they avoid an intramuscular shot. It’s not painful, it’s super easy, and it’s really effective,” Ghandi added.
Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in the release that FluMist “provides a new option for receiving a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine potentially with greater convenience, flexibility and accessibility for individuals and families.”
