PENNSYLVANIA, USA — As cold and flu season approaches, healthcare officials are looking for ways to make preventative measures more accessible.
The latest effort is a cure of convenience.
The FDA approved the first flu vaccine that doesn’t require a physician to deliver the dose. Instead, the nasal spray immunization called FluMist can be self-administered or given by a caretaker for those under the age of 18.
Infectious disease expert, Dr. John Goldman hopes the development will encourage more people to vaccinate.
“Giving people a way to get the vaccine without a shot, letting them simply order it and have it delivered home will increase the uptake of vaccines,” Goldman said.
For Dr. Debra Bogen, secretary of health for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, vaccines offer more than just preventing the spread of viruses.
“While vaccines can help people from getting flu, COVID and RSV, most importantly they keep symptoms mild and keep people out of the hospital,” Bogen said.
Which Goldman says is a bigger issue than most realize as the flu is a normalized part of the winter season.
“Even though it’s just the flu, a lot of Americans end up sick, a lot of Americans end up hospitalized, and an unfortunate amount of Americans die,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 2018 and 2022 influenza and pneumonia were the 12th leading cause of death. The two respiratory illnesses were responsible for 47,052 deaths in four years.
Goldman emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated no matter what version you use or how early or late you get the vaccine. However, he stated that some versions of the medication are thought to be more effective.
“Typically the virus lands in your nose first, in your upper respiratory airway first and there’s some thoughts that having a live vaccine in the nose might give you better protection,” Goldman explained.
A prescription for FluMist is still required during this cold and flu season. Officials from the FluMist manufacturer, AstraZeneca, expect the self-treatment option to be available for the 2025-2026 cold and flu season.
Until then, consumers looking to get their flu shot will still have to wait it out in the doctor's office.