The flu vaccination coverage has significantly dropped among children by 47%, adults by 47%, and pregnant women by 36%. Such reports resurface as we deal with 16 million flu cases globally, with an average flu hospitalization number grinding at 180,000. With the recommended flu vaccine intake being once per flu season, the FDA is devising a clever plan to crack down a billion flu cases by 2025. Now get an at-home flu ‘shot’ right at the comfort of your premises with a nasal spray flu vaccine version. How would this work? Let’s find out.
Who should get an at-home flu ‘shot’?
FDA is preparing to tackle over 3 to 5 billion severe influenza cases that resulted in deaths of over 100,000 people. Advocating for people with the ease to get an at-home flu ‘shot’ with a nasal spray vaccine called FluMist.
Since 2007, the FDA has approved people to get an at-home flu ‘shot’ for children as young as 2 years old to adults as old as 49 years old.
Why should you get an at-home flu ‘shot’?
To ease your anxieties over needles or improper intake of flu vaccine, now get an at-home flu ‘shot’ that can be self-administered. The nasal spray version was designed to safely administer the flu vaccine without any injection fears.
Is it affordable and available?
Get an at-home flu ‘shot’ online starting from the year 2025 at an affordable outlay that ranges from $35 to $45. Insurance holders will be obliged to receive the privilege of free influenza vaccines.
Possible candidates of the vaccine will be evaluated after they undergo a special screening or eligibility test that confirms their compatible need to get an at-home flu ‘shot’.
What are the primary concerns about getting an at-home flu ‘shot’?
Improper self-administration
Robert, a physician at Yale School of Medicine, has expressed concerns over its possible inadequate administration or use. Stating that although self-administration may seem easier to access is a needle-free option, its effectiveness might be hindered due to incorrect intake or storage.
Many people might not be familiar with how to properly use the self-administered nasal spray version.
Less effective
Nasal spray shots were proven to be less effective since the 2009, H1N1 flu pandemic. Due to this, the CDC was reportedly held against the approval of the nasal spray version to be used during the flu trials in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 periods.
Awakens low-power virus
One of the notable problems to be addressed to get an at-home flu ‘shot’ would be its potential risk of containing weakened forms of virus that won’t cause illnesses. Although externally this can be showcased as harmless, concerning people with low immunity power, it’s detrimental. Pregnant women and infected or ailing individuals could be possibly affected by its side effect.
How does it work to get an at-home flu ‘shot’
Be rest assured to get an at-home flu ‘shot’ that works just as effectively as a flu vaccination. The nasal spray version is well-equipped to stimulate your immune system to produce proteins that could be shot up in your blood and nose. Your nose is also a potent place for the flu virus to enter your body. The resultant proteins in place would start their action to fight against the upcoming flu virus.
Can the flu shot have an adverse effect on some people?
There is a list of persons who are not eligible to receive the shot, citing safety concerns.
- Pregnant or expecting mothers
- Children or infants under the age of 2 years old and adults above the age of 50 years old.
- People with heart or lung disease, asthma or respiratory tract diseases, and diabetes or kidney failure.
- Children who have asthma or respiratory tract issues and who take aspirin.
- Potential patients or others with a weakened immune system and people who are allergic to the contents used to make the vaccine.
- Patients of Guillain-Barre disease get instigated when the flu vaccine gets injected within 6 weeks.
Foreseen mild side effects of the flu shot
Adults are not necessarily in a position to be affected with secondary effects apart from a possible throat infection, headache, and cough. However, children are likely to experience aftereffects of the flu shot that can be in the form of:
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Running nose
- Sore throat or throat infection
- Coughing
- Running nose
- Wheezing
How should I take the nasal spray vaccine?
With an expected launch time to be scheduled in the October spring season, eligible candidates can witness its effects taking charge within just 2 weeks of self-administering it. As flu viruses are rapidly evolving every year, the FDA might recommend a different form of the nasal spray vaccine to fight accordingly against the prevailing flu virus.
What are the recommended doses of intake?
The nasal spray drug is available with a strength of 0.2 ml. And it considers the eligible patient’s age and formerly received flu doses to evaluate how much would be their recommended intake.
- The nasal spray vaccine should be dispensed as single-dose medication for children and adults aged from 9 to 49 years.
- Children aged between 2 and 8 years old are expected to take 2 doses of each flu season to counteract the flu. Each nostril will be prescribed to receive 0.1 ml per spray.
- Adults aged between 18 and 49 years old will be administered a 0.1 ml spray in each nostril per flu season.
- Children aged 9 years or older are likely to expect a one-dose treatment with a 0.1 ml shot across each nostril.
Why do children require two doses?
Children obliged to receive two doses should come under the possible category of being:
- A first-time flu vaccine receiver
- Or has received a flu vaccine intake of one dose per flu season.
Such a method of treatment is necessitated by the CDC to familiarize the children’s immune system with the flu vaccine. Children should experience a 4-week time gap in between both doses. Therefore, it is advised to apply the first dose of treatment early on to tackle the flu at its seasonal time with the second dose.
How can missing a dose affect it?
There are no severe concerns related to this, as the flu vaccine will be made available to administer at any time around the flu season. But patients should bear in mind that it takes 2 weeks for the nasal spray vaccine to take effect in the immune system. A missed dosage intake can be encountered with a quick rescheduling of the appointment to recover to receiving that dose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nasal spray FluMist vaccine about?
The FDA approved nasal spray vaccines against influenza A and B viruses to be self-administered among an age group of 2 to 49 years old.
How safe is it to get an at-home flu ‘shot’?
Although not 100% safely effective, the flu shot has worked wonders in eliminating your chances of being prone to another flu virus. The administered nasal spray shot was 23% likely to reduce the development of respiratory tract diseases among adults.
Would it be harmful if the FluMist drug interacts with other medications I use?
FluMist does interact with certain medications, so patients must be careful when administering them. For instance, children taking aspirin or antiviral drugs should not opt to receive the FluMist drug. However, it’s safe to use the drug when consuming antibiotics.
Conclusion
As seasonal flu becomes highly contagious, drawing stark concerns over 51,000 deaths resulting from flu annually between 2010-23. The FDA is now taking strict measures to annihilate such unfortunate events with an innovative self-administering nasal spray flu vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Now people can get an at-home flu ‘shot’ without the fear of needles to prevent the spread of the influenza virus.
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