Michigan is one of 34 states now offering "FluMist Home," which delivers the FluMist nasal vaccine directly to residents. AstraZeneca vice president Joris Silon said, "We did it for our whole family in like five minutes. It was very convenient," according to ClickOnDetroit. The service is intended to make vaccination more accessible, including for parents like Shelle Allen, who shared that her daughter once became seriously ill with the flu after missing a vaccine appointment.
The Food and Drug Administration approved FluMist for self-administration last year, but it was not available for home delivery during the last flu season. This year, families can order it for delivery in September or October with a $9 shipping fee that covers up to four doses. The nasal spray is intended for most healthy people ages 2 to 49 and is covered at no cost under most commercial insurance plans, as reported by CBS News.
FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, is now available for at-home use, but experts raised questions about proper self-administration, such as “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?” Customers must complete a medical questionnaire reviewed by a healthcare professional before ordering, and insurance is processed through FluMist Home’s online pharmacy. The shipment includes a temperature monitor that shows, “Green means it’s safe to use. Red means it’s not.” Dr. Kristina Bryant noted, “The most important thing to know is that vaccines only work if they are actually administered,” as mentioned by NBC News. The product is currently available only with insurance, but AstraZeneca plans to add a cash-pay option.
