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One year after approval, the nasal formulation of the flu vaccine is now available in 34 states for at-home use for individuals 2 through 49 years of age, according to an announcement. Consumers can order the FluMist nasal spray online directly from manufacturer AstraZeneca after completing a screening and assessment, and if appropriate, receive a prescription for home delivery of the self-administered vaccine. Consumers can also leverage their insurance benefits, according to the announcement. FluMist has been on the market since 2003 but previously was only available for administration by a healthcare practitioner. The convenience of at-home ordering and self-administration could encourage more people to get a flu vaccine for the forthcoming respiratory virus season—especially in locations with severe provider shortages.
State laws vary: The at-home FluMist product is not currently available in: Alaska, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, or West Virginia.