WILMINGTON, Del. — AstraZeneca is making flu protection more convenient with the launch of an at-home delivery option for FluMist, its nasal spray flu vaccine, the company said Friday.
FluMist (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) is the first and only seasonal influenza vaccine approved to be self-administered by adults 18 to 49 years of age or administered by a parent or caregiver to individuals 2-17 years of age.
Initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, this new approval extends a safe and effective vaccination option for individuals and their families to help protect themselves during flu season with no needles or waiting rooms. Now, for the first time, eligible individuals and their families can help protect themselves during the 2025-26 flu season from the convenience of their own home.
Individuals 18 and older can visit www.FluMist.com to learn more and click to order, where they will be directed to complete a medical screening questionnaire. A licensed healthcare provider will review each submission to determine eligibility. Once eligibility is confirmed and insurance is verified, FluMist will be prescribed and shipped directly to the consumer’s home on the date they had selected, complete with clear administration instructions, storage guidance and how to dispose.
“The launch of FluMist Home is a transformational moment in the evolution of influenza protection, bringing a simple and accessible option directly into the hands of consumers. FluMist Home reflects the growing importance of direct-to-consumer offerings and underscores our commitment to continuous innovation, making it easier for people to get vaccinated and stay protected," said Joris Silon, U.S. country president and senior vice president, AstraZeneca.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2024-2025 influenza season was classified as a high-severity across all age groups in the US–the most severe since the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, resulting in at least 610,000 hospitalizations and 27,000 deaths. These trends underscore the importance of increasing influenza vaccination coverage and providing more accessible vaccination options to help improve immunization rates for protection against flu.
Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, division head, Infectious Disease; Virginia H. Rogers Professor in Infectious Diseases, Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases), Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, U.S., said: “As influenza vaccination rates decline, especially among younger populations, this first-of-its-kind, at-home, needle-free option offers a critical opportunity to help make protection more accessible, convenient, and better aligned with the realities and current preferences of people’s lives.”7
Michele Slafkosky, executive director, Families Fighting Flu, noted: “Seasonal influenza can have a serious, even life-altering, impact on individuals and families, especially for those most vulnerable. Providing flexible vaccination options makes it easier for individuals and caregivers to help get protected. This can help to improve protection for individuals and strengthen collective immunity against influenza.”
Ami Patel, Executive vice president, Hub Operations, ASPN Pharmacies, pointed out: “For the first time, consumers can receive and administer an influenza vaccine entirely at home—marking a historic shift in how preventive care is delivered. Through FluMist Home we’re seeing a new model of care that puts consumers in control, offering a seamless, end-to-end experience, from determining eligibility to convenient home-delivery and administration. This milestone not only redefines convenience in vaccine delivery, but also sets the stage for a more accessible, patient-centered future in healthcare.”
Through FluMist Home, all orders will be reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider with ASPN Pharmacies, an independent online specialty pharmacy, and then dispensed and shipped by Polaris Pharmacy Services, a specialty pharmacy, in temperature-controlled packages to maintain cold chain continuity. Consumers can select their preferred delivery date during the ordering process for added convenience. FluMist for self- or caregiver-administration is packaged in a consumer-friendly format with clear, at-home specific instructions that support proper handling, administration, and disposal. Once received, the vaccine should be stored in the refrigerator until use. The service also ensures documentation of vaccination in the relevant Immunization Information System.
For the 2025-26 flu season, FluMist Home will be available in 34 states covering about 80% of the eligible population. There are a number of states where FluMist Home is unavailable due to local pharmacy laws. The company aims to have this service available in all 48 contiguous states in future seasons. FluMist will continue to be available in doctors’ offices and pharmacies for administration by healthcare professionals across the nation.
