AstraZeneca Launches FluMist Home: First Nationwide At-Home Delivery Service for Needle-Free Influenza Vaccination
AstraZeneca has announced the launch of FluMist Home, a pioneering direct-to-consumer initiative that will allow individuals and families in much of the United States to receive FLUMIST® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) delivered directly to their homes. This innovative service marks a first-of-its-kind approach in influenza prevention, combining convenience, accessibility, and consumer empowerment at a time when vaccination rates remain uneven and flu severity is on the rise.
FLUMIST, a needle-free, intranasal influenza vaccine, is currently the only seasonal flu vaccine in the U.S. approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for self-administration in adults ages 18 to 49 and for administration by a parent or caregiver in children and adolescents aged 2 to 17. The product was originally approved by the FDA in 2003, but in 2025, AstraZeneca received regulatory clearance for a new self-administration pathway that has paved the way for this direct-to-home service.
With the launch of FluMist Home, the 2025–2026 flu season will mark the first time in U.S. history that eligible individuals can order a seasonal influenza vaccine online, undergo a simple health screening reviewed by a licensed provider, and receive their vaccine in temperature-controlled packaging for safe storage and administration at home. This advancement is designed to help overcome barriers to flu vaccination, such as the inconvenience of scheduling appointments, needle anxiety, and limited access to in-person healthcare services.
A New Model for Vaccine Access
Under the FluMist Home program, the process begins online at www.FluMist.com, where consumers aged 18 and older can learn more about the vaccine and initiate their order. The journey includes a digital medical screening questionnaire, which is reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider to determine eligibility and safety. Once approved, and after insurance verification is completed, the prescription is processed and the vaccine is shipped directly to the consumer’s home.
Each package includes:
- FLUMIST intranasal vaccine prepackaged for safe, simple use.
- Step-by-step administration instructions, designed to help consumers or caregivers confidently deliver the vaccine.
- Storage guidance, ensuring that the vaccine is properly refrigerated until use.
- Disposal instructions, addressing safe and responsible handling after administration.
The service also integrates with state-level Immunization Information Systems (IIS), ensuring proper documentation of vaccine administration in official health records. This maintains clinical continuity and supports public health monitoring.
AstraZeneca’s Commitment to Innovation in Vaccination
Joris Silon, U.S. Country President and Senior Vice President at AstraZeneca, emphasized the broader significance of this milestone:
“The launch of FluMist Home is a transformational moment in the evolution of influenza protection, bringing a simple and accessible option directly into the hands of consumers. FluMist Home reflects the growing importance of direct-to-consumer offerings and underscores our commitment to continuous innovation, making it easier for people to get vaccinated and stay protected.”
This initiative reflects a broader healthcare trend: the consumerization of preventive care, where individuals increasingly seek healthcare solutions that can be accessed on their own terms—at home, on demand, and without unnecessary barriers.
Why This Matters: The Growing Threat of Influenza
The launch of FluMist Home comes at a critical time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2024–2025 influenza season was the most severe in the U.S. since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The CDC estimates that the season resulted in:
- 47–82 million influenza-related illnesses
- 21–37 million healthcare visits
- 610,000–1.3 million hospitalizations
- 27,000–130,000 deaths
This represents a significant public health burden, straining hospitals and increasing the urgency for broader flu vaccination coverage.
Despite the risks, vaccination rates in the U.S. remain suboptimal, with especially low uptake among younger age groups. Experts believe that providing more flexible, consumer-friendly options like FluMist Home could help reverse this trend.
Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, Division Head of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University School of Medicine, explained:
“As influenza vaccination rates decline, especially among younger populations, this first-of-its-kind, at-home, needle-free option offers a critical opportunity to help make protection more accessible, convenient, and better aligned with the realities and current preferences of people’s lives.”
Patient Advocacy and Family Impact
Patient advocacy groups have also welcomed the new service. Michele Slafkosky, Executive Director of Families Fighting Flu, highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable populations:
“Seasonal influenza can have a serious, even life-altering, impact on individuals and families, especially for those most vulnerable. Providing flexible vaccination options makes it easier for individuals and caregivers to help get protected. This can help to improve protection for individuals and strengthen collective immunity against influenza.”
For families with children, the ability for parents or caregivers to administer FLUMIST at home represents a new level of autonomy and convenience. Parents no longer need to schedule pediatrician appointments solely for flu vaccination, reducing logistical burdens and time away from work or school.
Partnerships Powering FluMist Home
Behind the scenes, FluMist Home is enabled by partnerships with specialized pharmacy providers:
- ASPN Pharmacies, LLC: Responsible for provider review of eligibility screenings and prescription approvals.
- Polaris Pharmacy Services: Dispenses and ships the vaccine in temperature-controlled packaging to ensure cold-chain integrity until administration.
Consumers can choose their preferred delivery date during the ordering process, allowing for greater flexibility. The vaccine arrives in a consumer-friendly format, packaged specifically for safe at-home administration.
Ami Patel, Executive Vice President of Hub Operations at ASPN Pharmacies, underscored the program’s groundbreaking nature:
“For the first time, consumers can receive and administer an influenza vaccine entirely at home—marking a historic shift in how preventive care is delivered. Through FluMist Home we’re seeing a new model of care that puts consumers in control, offering a seamless, end-to-end experience, from determining eligibility to convenient home-delivery and administration. This milestone not only redefines convenience in vaccine delivery, but also sets the stage for a more accessible, patient-centered future in healthcare.”
Availability and Geographic Reach
For the 2025–2026 flu season, FluMist Home will be available in 34 states, covering roughly 80% of the eligible U.S. population. Due to variations in state pharmacy laws, the service will initially not be available in all regions. However, AstraZeneca has announced plans to expand availability to all 48 contiguous states in future flu seasons.
Importantly, FLUMIST will continue to be available through traditional channels, including doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies, ensuring that consumers who prefer or require in-person administration can still access the vaccine.
Safety Information and Considerations
Like all vaccines, FLUMIST carries important safety considerations. Key points include:
- Do not use FLUMIST if you have severe allergies to its components, eggs, or other influenza vaccines, or if you are aged 2–17 and currently take aspirin or medications containing aspirin.
- Children under 2 are at higher risk for wheezing after FLUMIST.
- Patients should inform providers if they have asthma, wheezing, weakened immune systems, heart, kidney, or lung conditions, diabetes, are pregnant/nursing, or are taking antivirals for influenza.
- Rare but serious side effects may include allergic reactions, such as swelling, hives, or breathing difficulty.
- Common side effects include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fever.
FLUMIST is approved for use in individuals ages 2 to 49 years. As with all vaccines, it may not prevent influenza in every vaccinated person.
A Shift Toward Consumer-Centric Vaccination
The launch of FluMist Home represents more than a new delivery channel for influenza vaccines—it signals a paradigm shift in public health delivery models. By blending biotechnology innovation, digital health integration, and consumer-first distribution, AstraZeneca is positioning itself at the forefront of what many experts believe will be a new era of at-home preventive healthcare.
The approach mirrors broader trends in medicine, including the rise of at-home diagnostic tests, telemedicine, and pharmacy-led home delivery services, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers are increasingly comfortable managing elements of their healthcare independently, and FluMist Home is a direct response to these evolving expectations.
As flu seasons grow more unpredictable and the stakes of respiratory viral infections remain high, expanding access to vaccines is essential. AstraZeneca’s initiative could serve as a blueprint for future direct-to-consumer vaccine services—potentially paving the way for at-home delivery of other vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, RSV, or even childhood immunizations, if supported by regulators.
The debut of FluMist Home brings the U.S. a groundbreaking new option for influenza protection: a needle-free, self-administered vaccine delivered straight to consumers’ doors. For millions of families, this represents not only convenience, but also a tangible step toward improving vaccination coverage, reducing the public health burden of flu, and empowering individuals to take charge of their preventive care.
As AstraZeneca scales this program and works toward nationwide availability, FluMist Home has the potential to reshape how Americans think about flu prevention—turning an annual healthcare obligation into a simple, accessible, and even empowering home-based experience.
