Yesterday, the United States authorized the first nasal spray flu vaccine that patients can self-administer, without the help of a professional.
The FluMist vaccine, produced by the AstraZeneca group, has been approved for several years by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people between 2 and 49 years of age.
Young people should not administer it themselves, but their parents or carers can.
This is “a new option for getting a seasonal flu vaccine that is safe and effective that could be more convenient, flexible and affordable for individuals and families,” said Peter Marks, head of the FDA.
A prescription will still be needed to get the vaccine, through an online pharmacy, the FDA explained.
This option will be available starting next fall, AstraZeneca said.
The vaccine will contain instructions for use, which have been evaluated in a study to ensure clarity.
This authorization is “an important step to make vaccines more affordable,” said AstraZeneca’s Iskra Reic.
The main side effect of the live attenuated vaccine may be fever in children between 2 and 6 years of age.
According to the company, almost 200 million doses have already been distributed worldwide.
Between 2020 and 2023, the flu caused the death of between 4,900 and 51,000 people depending on the year in the United States, data from health authorities shows.
2024-09-21 10:54:33
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