FluMist Home Delivery Expands Access to Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

For the 2025–2026 influenza season, AstraZeneca has introduced FluMist Home, a new direct-to-consumer delivery service that allows patients to receive and administer the nation’s only nasal spray influenza vaccine from the comfort of their homes. This milestone follows the FDA’s 2024 approval of FluMist (AstraZeneca) Quadrivalent for at-home self-administration, marking a significant advancement in accessibility for influenza prevention.¹

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In September 2024, the FluMist label was expanded by the FDA to include self-administration for adults aged 18 to 49 years and caregiver administration for children aged 2 to 17 years. Clinical usability studies showed that all users who were targeted correctly conducted the full intranasal delivery when given the proper instructions. Safety, immunogenicity, and adverse event (AE) profiles were found to be consistent with those seen under health care provider administration, supporting the approval of this new use model.¹

According to the FDA package insert, FluMist is indicated for active immunization against influenza A and B subtypes in individuals 2 through 49 years of age. Children aged 2 through 8 years may require either 1 or 2 doses of 0.2 mL (0.1 mL per nostril), administered at least 1 month apart. Individuals aged 9 through 49 years require a single 0.2 mL dose. The most common AEs include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fever in children. Contraindications include severe allergic reactions to any vaccine component, and precautions apply to individuals with asthma, recurrent wheezing, immunosuppression, pregnancy, and aspirin therapy.²

Launch of FluMist Home

Building on this regulatory foundation, in August 2025, AstraZeneca announced the launch of FluMist Home. The program allows qualified individuals to carry out a web-based medical screening reviewed by licensed providers, after which the vaccine can be prescribed and shipped directly to the patient’s home. The service is provided with detailed guidance for use, maintenance, and disposal, thus ensuring convenience and safety in a setting other than a standard clinic.³

FluMist Home is currently available in 34 US states, with plans for a broader national expansion. To ensure that the product is kept at the right temperature, packages are shipped under cold-chain conditions with a temperature monitoring tag. Typically, the cost of the FluMist is covered by insurance, but patients are required to pay a shipping and handling fee of $8.99 per order.³

Improving Convenience and Uptake

Experts note that the introduction of FluMist Home has the potential to expand vaccination coverage, particularly among patients who avoid flu shots due to needle phobia or busy schedules. Pharmacy Times highlighted that this option provides a new level of accessibility, bridging the gap between public health recommendations and real-world barriers to vaccination.⁴

Pharmacists remain central to this evolution. Although the vaccine may be delivered to the patients directly, pharmacists will provide the patients the necessary information regarding their eligibility, possible contraindications, and correct usage. Pharmacists can also guide families on storage and handling requirements, as well as support patients in understanding when in-person consultation is necessary.

FluMist Home release signals a major breakthrough in the fight against seasonal influenza. The program is approved for at-home use by the FDA and is also supported by AstraZeneca, which provides the delivery directly to the patient. This program can go a long way to raising the number of vaccinations and lessening the total flu load across the US. Pharmacists, as well as other healthcare providers, will play a very important role in facilitating the administration of this easy-to-use option to their patients, ensuring safe, informed use of this convenient new option.

REFERENCES

1. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccine for Self- or Caregiver-Administration. September 20, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-nasal-spray-influenza-vaccine-self-or-caregiver-administration

2. Package Insert FluMist Quadrivalent. Published 2024 https://www.fda.gov/files/Package-Insert-FluMist-Quadrivalent.pdf

3. Live V. FLUMIST® (Influenza, Vaccine Live, Intranasal), the nation’s only nasal spray flu vaccine, now available for home delivery. Astrazeneca-us.com. Published August 15, 2025. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/media/press-releases/2025/FLUMIST-the-nations-only-nasal-spray-flu-vaccine-now-available-for-home-delivery.html

4. Antrim A. FDA Approves First At-Home Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine. Pharmacy Times. Published September 20, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-approves-first-at-home-nasal-spray-flu-vaccine