Just about everyone needs a flu vaccine every year. If you would prefer the convenience of getting a flu vaccine at home or you don’t like needles, you might want to consider FluMist. It’s a nasal spray flu vaccine that’s an option for some people age 2 to 49.
It’s different from the injectable flu shot, which is the right option for people who can’t use FluMist.
Can you get FluMist at home?
Yes. It’s been available for years in pharmacies and clinics. Now, some people can administer FluMist at home. “It is the first flu vaccine that does not have to be administered by a health care provider,” said Sophia Galloway, a pharmacist with Banner - University Medicine.
How does the at-home FluMist option work?
You can order through FluMist at Home. A licensed health care provider reviews your eligibility and answers to a safety questionnaire.
If you’re approved, the vaccine is shipped to you in temperature-controlled packaging. You can scan the box with an app to make sure it’s been kept at the right temperature.
FluMist is available as a self-administered flu vaccine for adults age 18 to 49 and as a caregiver-administered flu vaccine given by an adult to a child age 2 to 17. Availability may vary by season, state and insurance.
FluMist is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), meaning it contains weakened flu viruses. “It is well-tolerated. The main side effects are runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat or fever,” Dr. Galloway said.
It’s important to know that flu vaccines do not cause flu. “FluMist uses a weakened flu virus that has been specifically altered so that it can only grow in the cool lining of the nose, not the lungs or rest of the body,” Dr. Galloway said.
Who should not use FluMist? Understanding FluMist eligibility guidelines
FluMist should not be used for:
- Children younger than 2
- Adults 50 and older
- Pregnant women
- People with a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or vaccine ingredient
- Children and teens ages 2 to 17 taking aspirin or salicylate-containing medicine
- Children ages 2 through 4 with asthma or wheezing in the past 12 months
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome
- People without a spleen or with a nonfunctioning spleen
- People with cochlear implants
- People with a cerebrospinal fluid leak
- People who recently took certain flu antiviral medications
If you have moderate or severe illness, you should wait until you recover before taking the vaccine. You should separate FluMist from other live virus vaccines (like MMR and varicella) by four weeks.
Talk to a health care provider about FluMist for people with asthma age 5 and older or people with chronic conditions that raise flu complication risk. They can help you figure out if FluMist or a flu shot is safer.
It’s important to check with your school or employer if you need to show proof of flu vaccine, to verify that they accept at-home FluMist.
How should FluMist be stored and used?
It’s important to follow the instructions exactly.
- Store FluMist in the refrigerator between 35°F and 46°F in its carton to protect it from heat and light.
- Do not freeze it.
- Do not use it if it has been frozen, damaged, opened, tampered with or expired.
- It may be kept at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F in the carton for up to 12 hours.
- Use it within 12 hours of removing it from the refrigerator.
- Do not expose it to temperatures above 77°F.
- One dose is two sprays, one in each nostril. Depress the plunger rapidly to create a spray. If you press it too slowly, the liquid won’t coat the inside of your nostril properly.
- Do not use it in the eyes, mouth or on the skin.
- Do not reuse or share the sprayer.
- Follow disposal/return instructions included with the shipment.
Does Banner offer at-home FluMist?
Banner does not offer FluMist but does offer other types of flu vaccines through Banner Urgent Care and other care locations.
You can ask your Banner provider whether FluMist is right for you and where to get the flu vaccine.
How to decide between FluMist and a flu shot
The best flu vaccine is one you are eligible for and can get:
- FluMist may appeal to people who prefer a needle-free option or who don’t want to schedule appointments or make trips to a pharmacy or office.
- People with chronic conditions should ask their provider which flu vaccine is right for them.
- Children ages 6 months through 8 years may need two doses of flu vaccine, whether that’s FluMist or a flu shot.
Bottom line
At-home FluMist may give some people a needle-free way to get a flu vaccine. But it is only approved for healthy people ages 2 through 49 and children and teens need an adult caregiver to administer it. It is not right for everyone, including people who are pregnant and some people with chronic conditions or weakened immune systems.
If you are not sure whether FluMist or a flu shot is the right option for you or your child, a Banner Health provider can review your health history and help you choose the safest way to get protected this flu season.
FAQs about home flu vaccines
Can I give myself FluMist at home?
Eligible adults ages 18 through 49 may be able to self-administer FluMist at home after eligibility screening.
Can children give themselves FluMist?
No. Children and teens ages 2 through 17 should not self-administer FluMist. A caregiver age 18 or older should administer it.
What ages can get FluMist?
FluMist is approved for healthy people ages 2 through 49. Children younger than 2 and adults 50 and older should not get it.
Can pregnant people use FluMist?
No. Pregnant people should get a flu shot, not the nasal spray flu vaccine.
Can FluMist affect flu test results?
Yes. FluMist contains weakened live influenza viruses that can temporarily be detected by some nasal flu tests. This means a positive result soon after vaccination may reflect the vaccine rather than an influenza infection.
Tell your health care professional if you recently received FluMist before having a flu test. They can consider when you received the vaccine along with your symptoms, possible flu exposure and the type of test used.
Does Banner offer at-home FluMist?
No, Banner does not offer the FluMist vaccine. Banner Urgent Care and other locations offer various other flu vaccines. Check with your Banner provider for current options.
