United States: First self-administered flu vaccine authorized

While this flu vaccine has already been authorized for several years by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people aged 2 to 49, Americans will now be able to administer it to themselves, without the help of a health professional, as a nasal spray, the authorities announced, giving the green light on Friday, September 20.

Minors will not be able to administer the AstraZeneca FluMist vaccine to themselves, but their parents or caregivers will be able to do so.

“An important step towards making vaccines more accessible”

A prescription will still be required to obtain the vaccine, through an online pharmacy, the FDA detailed. This option will be available starting next fall, AstraZeneca specified. The vaccine will contain instructions for use, which have been evaluated in a study to verify that they were well understood. This authorization is “an important step in making vaccines more accessible,” rejoiced Iskra Reic, from AstraZeneca.

The main side effect of the vaccine, which contains a live, weakened virus, can be fever in children ages 2 to 6. Nearly 200 million doses have already been distributed worldwide in the past, according to the company. The vaccine is called Fluenz Tetra in France.

Influenza can be dangerous for at-risk populations, especially the elderly or young children. Each season is different in terms of health consequences. Influenza caused the deaths of between 4,900 and 51,000 people annually between 2010 and 2023 in the United States, according to U.S. health authorities.