Latest news with #FluMistHome
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
No Time for the Doctor? You Can Give Yourself a Flu Vaccine
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. AstraZeneca's FluMist nasal spray, which was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, is now available through prescription for at-home use, a statement issued by the company said Friday. Newsweek has reached out to the American Medical Association (AMA) for comment on the vaccine on Saturday. Why It Matters While it's not a new vaccine, FluMist Home nasal spray widens the availability to those who may not previously had access. The at-home option also removes the need for a doctor to administer the vaccine, which public health experts say could increase vaccination uptake by addressing convenience and needle-avoidance barriers. This comes ahead of the 2025-26 influenza season in hopes to prevent the unusually high caseload seen the previous season. What To Know FluMist Home uses the same live attenuated intranasal formulation that is available in clinical settings like doctors' offices. The product is approved for children as young as 2 years old and up to adults aged 49. People who are pregnant, immunocompromised, and minors who take aspirin are advised not to take the vaccine, according to the company. Based on data from October 1, 2024, through May 17, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were up to 82 million flu related cases, 37 million medical visits, 1.3 million hospitalizations and 130,000 deaths across the U.S. during the 2024-25 flu season. The CDC says the best way to prevent the flu is to get a vaccine, however it's not available to everyone. Only 34 states, about 80 percent of the eligible population, have the option for the at-home vaccine, according to AstraZeneca's Friday statement. "There are a number of states where FluMist Home is unavailable due to local pharmacy laws," the statement said. "Our aim is to have this service available in all 48 contiguous states in future seasons." People over the age of 18 can go online, fill out a medical questionnaire and have the vaccine sent to them for self-administration. A sign telling customers that they can get a flu shot in a Walgreens store is seen on September 16, 2014, in Indianapolis. A sign telling customers that they can get a flu shot in a Walgreens store is seen on September 16, 2014, in Indianapolis. AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File What People Are Saying Joris Silon, US Country President and Senior Vice President, AstraZeneca, said in the statement issued Friday: "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." Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital, told CNN Friday: "We learned during COVID how home diagnostic testing became widely accepted and that turned out to be a great public health intervention. Given the low uptake of seasonal flu vaccine in America, I think it is worth exploring some novel approaches." What Happens Next? It is unclear how many people will order the vaccine, but the outcomes of availability will be monitored by public health officials to see if the number of vaccinated patients, the number of cases, and even deaths change amid the newly available home vaccine. AstraZeneca urges users to report any side effects from taking the FluMist Home.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) Launches FluMist Home For At-Home Influenza Vaccination
AstraZeneca recently launched "FluMist Home," an at-home flu vaccine delivery service, marking an important milestone for easier access to vaccinations in 34 U.S. states. This initiative likely contributed to its stock price increase of 12% last quarter, as it aligns with AstraZeneca's push towards innovative healthcare solutions. Despite this positive development, the overall market also experienced an upward trend, with the Dow hitting record highs and the market up 1% over the last week. AstraZeneca's performance seems to have been buoyed by both its strategic product launches and the broader market gains. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 possible red flags for AstraZeneca you should know about. The end of cancer? These 26 emerging AI stocks are developing tech that will allow early identification of life changing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. The launch of AstraZeneca's "FluMist Home" aligns well with the company's focus on innovative healthcare solutions, potentially impacting the narrative around its future growth. This new service might enhance revenue streams by tapping into the demand for convenient medical solutions. Over the last five years, AstraZeneca's total shareholder returns, including both share price and dividends, have risen by 54.08%. This growth provides a broader context to the company's performance, indicating resilience and strong returns for investors. Over the past year, AstraZeneca's share price movement has been in line with the performance of the UK Pharmaceuticals industry, which returned 10.3%. Looking at the potential impact on revenue and earnings forecasts, the initiative could bolster AstraZeneca's earnings as analysts anticipate a growth to $13.9 billion by 2028, up from $8.3 billion today. The recent stock price increase narrows the gap to the consensus analyst price target of £137.89, reflecting a potential 18.95% discount from the current share price of £115.92. This price movement suggests optimism among investors regarding the company's ability to meet future expectations. Our comprehensive valuation report raises the possibility that AstraZeneca is priced lower than what may be justified by its financials. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include LSE:AZN. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
You May Now Give Yourself A Flu Vaccine At Home With FluMist Home
These days, there are more things that you can do at home by yourself that you couldn't do before such as sit in a business meeting without wearing any pants. Well, here's another thing that previously wasn't possible at home but now is: vaccinate yourself against the flu. Yep, if you are in one of the 34 eligible states in the U.S., you can now get the FluMist Home vaccine from AstraZeneca delivered to right to your home. And in case you missed what FluMist is, it's a nasal spray vaccine. So rather than sticking yourself with a needle, you can simply squirt the vaccine up your nose. FluMist Home Is The Home Version Of FluMist Vaccine The vaccine itself isn't new. The FluMist nasal spray vaccine received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval back in 2003 to be used for those from five to 49 years of age. The FDA added kids from two through five years of age to this approval in 2007. But until last year, like all other flu vaccines, you had to get some kind of qualified healthcare worker to give you the vaccine. That all changed in September 2024 when the FDA approved FluMist to be the first self-administer-able flu vaccine out there. Not coincidentally, it's also the only nasal spray flu vaccine out there. It's probably a whole lot easier and safer for folks to squirt something up their noses rather than stick their arms with needles. Not surprisingly, AstraZeneca wasn't ready to go with the home version of FluMist, known as FluMist Home, last flu season, which was a particularly nasty one, as I covered in Forbes tat the time. But the company is ready for this upcoming flu season. Starting this fall, if you are an adult under 50 or a parent of a child who's older than two you can order the vaccine via an online platform. Now you will have to complete a medical screening questionnaire that will be reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional before the vaccines gets prescribed to you or your tykes. Most types of commercial insurance should cover this vaccine. But you may have to fork out $8.99 for shipping and handling. Now, if you are an adult 50 years or older or a kid from six months up to two years of age and saying WTF, as in 'what the FluMist,' for me, you aren't eligible for this vaccine. That's because the vaccine uses live (but weakened) versions of the flu virus, which is different from the other flu vaccines that use dead or inactivated versions of the flu virus. The live, weakened versions of the flu virus may generate a stronger immune response and thus stronger protection than the dead versions. However, if you've got a weaker immune systems such as when you get older than 50 or are younger than two years of age, you want to be careful about getting a live virus, even if it is weakened, injected into you. FluMist Home Could Help Increase Flu Vaccination Rates The flu vaccine typically offers anywhere from 30% to 60% protection against the flu, depending on how well the flu strains in the flu vaccine match the circulating strains that year. Since it takes about six months to produce the flu vaccine, the selection of the strains for the vaccine need to occur well in advance of the flu season. That's why sometimes it's a good match, sometimes things are way off and often it's somewhere in between. As with many other vaccines against infectious diseases, how well you are protected against the flu does depend on how many other people around you got vaccinated as well. Last flu season, an estimated 46.7% of adults and 49.2% of children got vaccinated against the flu. That's compared to 49.2% and 53.4% for the flu season prior in 2023-2024, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. These close-to-but-not-quite-half have been rather typical each flu season recently, as I have written in Forbes previously. Those numbers ain't great. You may have heard of the concept of herd immunity, which I have written about before in Forbes. While the flu vaccine will help protect the individuals who got it, ideally you want the vaccination coverage to be significantly higher than the herd immunity threshold for flu, which is around 50%. When the vaccination coverage is well above the herd immunity threshold, the virus begins to run out of susceptible people to infect, which in turn slows the spread of the flu virus in the population. It's not completely clear why over the half the U.S. population did not get the flu vaccine last flu season. For some, it might have been a matter of convenience. They may have not gotten vaccinated simply because they didn't find the time to take time off from work to go to a clinic or pharmacy. For such folks, having something like FluMist Home available may increase their chances of getting vaccinated.
NBC News
a day ago
- Health
- NBC News
Needle-phobic? FluMist nasal spray vaccine available for use at home
More children died from the flu this past season than any year outside of the swine flu pandemic in 2009. Most of them were unvaccinated. That's why some doctors are hoping that the first nasal flu vaccine available for use at home can improve vaccination rates among people, especially children, who are afraid of needles. AstraZeneca's FluMist Home, which was approved last fall, is now available with a prescription for children ages 2 and over, and adults up to age 49. A 2019 review from researchers at the University of Michigan found the majority of children and up to 30% of young adults are afraid of needles. Dr. Zachary Hoy, board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, said many children are scared because they aren't old enough to understand what vaccines are and why they are important. 'Most of the time, the anxiety and worry before the shot is scarier than the actual shot,' Hoy said. How does FluMist Home work? The vaccine was first approved in 2003 to be given in a doctor's office. However, after the 2009 swine flu pandemic introduced the new H1N1 strain, several studies found the nasal spray was less effective than other flu vaccines. This prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend against using the nasal spray in 2016. At the time, the CDC said the nasal spray accounted for one-third of all flu vaccines given to children. In response, FluMist's manufacturers reformulated it to more closely match circulating strains, including H1N1, and the nasal spray returned in 2018. Like injectable flu vaccines, FluMist is updated each season based on recommendations from global health officials. 'FluMist's efficacy is comparable to injectable flu vaccines and is a safe and effective needle-free option for flu protection,' AstraZeneca spokesperson Andrew Leone said. Experts say it's too early to tell how bad the upcoming flu season will be. Typically, flu vaccines are 40% and 60% effective in preventing severe illness, and FluMist Home should be equally protective. The doses for the 2026-2027 season contain three virus strains: an A/H1N1 strain, an A/H3N2 strain and a B strain from the B/Victoria lineage, according to the drugmaker. The FluMist Home vaccine contains a weakened form of a live virus to stimulate the immune system. Pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems are advised to talk with their doctor before using it. Does insurance cover it? FluMist Home is available only online. People ordering the nasal spray will need to complete a medical screening questionnaire at that is reviewed by a health care professional, according to the drugmaker. FluMist Home's online pharmacy will then collect the insurance information and bill the health plan directly. A temperature monitor on the packaging will verify that the vaccine has been maintained at the appropriate temperature during shipping and delivery. Green means it's safe to use. Red means it's not. Christina Aungst, senior pharmacy editor at GoodRx, estimates people with insurance will likely only have to pay an $8.99 shipping fee for the nasal spray. 'Currently, if you don't have insurance, FluMist is only available in a health care setting,' AstraZeneca's Leone said. 'We hope to provide a cash pay option for FluMist Home in future seasons.' When FluMist is given in a health care office or clinic, most insurance plans — including Medicare and Medicaid — will cover it. Dr. Scott Roberts, associate medical director of infection prevention at Yale School of Medicine, worries people may not administer the nasal spray vaccine properly without a doctor's supervision. 'What if they have a runny nose? How far back do they need to spray in the nose? What if they store it incorrectly in their house?' Roberts asked. Dr. Kristina Bryant, pediatric infectious diseases physician at Norton Children's in Louisville, Kentucky, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said the bottom line is that all the available flu vaccines offer comparable protection. 'The most important thing to know is that vaccines only work if they are actually administered,' Bryant said. 'Hopefully, the availability of a vaccine that can be administered in the home will make it easier for some people to be protected against flu.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
FluMist, a vaccine nasal spray, is now available for use at home
Those looking to protect themselves against the flu this season now have an at-home option. FluMist, the only nasal spray flu vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is now available for purchase for self-administration. AstraZenca's FluMist was approved in 2003 to be given by health care providers. Last year, the FDA broadened the approval of the nasal spray to make it the first self-administered option. An at-home delivery service, called FluMist Home, will be available in 34 states this flu season. Through FluMist Home, customers can get the same FluMist nasal spray — shipped to their homes — that patients can receive at a doctor's office or pharmacy. How much does FluMist cost? According to the online ordering platform, FluMist is free under most commercial insurance. There is, however, a fee of $8.99 for shipping and processing. To order, customers have to give some basic personal information, medical details, insurance information and a payment method. Who can use FluMist at home? FluMist is approved for at-home use for those ages 2 to 49, but a caregiver should administer FluMist to individuals 2 through 17, according to the website. The website includes instructions on how to administer the spray to yourself and family members. FluMist should not be used in people with "a severe allergy to its components, eggs or other flu vaccines," according to the product's website, which offers a full list of patient and safety information. What states is FluMist Home available in? According to a news release, FluMist Home will be available in the following states for the 2025-2026 flu season: AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutFloridaGeorgiaIowaIdahoIllinoisMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNevadaOhioOregonPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWyoming "There are a number of states where FluMist Home is unavailable due to local pharmacy laws," the release notes. "Our aim is to have this service available in all 48 contiguous states in future seasons." Passenger arrested after allegedly causing disturbance midair and forcing flight to divert When could Tropical Storm Erin become a hurricane? Urban garden helps combat food insecurity in Miami Solve the daily Crossword
