AstraZeneca Seeks FDA Approval for Self-Administered Nasal Flu Vaccine
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has recently submitted a supplemental license application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requesting approval for its nasal flu vaccine, FluMist, to be self-administered at home. The company is hoping that this move will increase flu vaccine uptake and revolutionize the way vaccines are delivered.
If approved, adults aged 18 and older will be able to self-administer the single-use nasal syringe and provide the vaccine to children aged 2-17. Currently, FluMist is only administered by healthcare professionals. The company expects to receive a decision from the FDA by the first quarter of 2024.
The decision to seek approval for self-administration comes as a result of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, self-administered nasal swabs were widely used for testing and proved to be effective. AstraZeneca believes that people can easily use the nasal syringe and will provide specific instructions on how to use it.
One major advantage of self-administration is the convenience it offers. Individuals will be able to receive the flu vaccine from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for a visit to a healthcare provider. However, details about the packaging and shipment process for delivering the vaccine to customers have not yet been revealed.
It is worth noting that the efficacy of the flu vaccine has been relatively low this year. Despite this, AstraZeneca hopes that by offering the vaccine for at-home use, more people will be inclined to get vaccinated. Furthermore, this move has the potential to pave the way for other diseases, such as COVID-19, to be vaccinated against through nasal delivery.
In fact, AstraZeneca is currently in the process of developing an intra-nasally delivered live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The company believes that delivering vaccines directly at the point of entry, the nose, can be highly effective for respiratory diseases.
If approved, the self-administered nasal flu vaccine will mark a significant advancement in vaccine administration. AstraZeneca’s forward-thinking approach aims to make vaccinations more accessible, efficient, and convenient for individuals, ultimately contributing to public health initiatives and disease prevention efforts.
Keep an eye out for updates from AstraZeneca as the FDA reviews the application and makes its decision in the coming months.
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