Polaris Rx Selected Again as Exclusive U.S. Distributor for FluMist Home for 2026–2027 Flu Season
Polaris Rx, a provider of long-term care, specialty and infusion pharmacy solutions, has been selected for a second consecutive year as the exclusive U.S. distributor for FluMist Home, AstraZeneca’s at-home influenza vaccination service. The program will be available for the 2026–2027 flu season, expanding access to FluMist through a home-delivery model designed to provide eligible individuals with an alternative to traditional in-person vaccination.
The renewed distribution agreement builds on Polaris Rx’s role during the inaugural year of FluMist Home. The company will continue supporting the dispensing and delivery of FluMist through its pharmacy infrastructure, cold chain capabilities and patient management systems.
FluMist Home enables eligible individuals to order FluMist online and have the vaccine delivered directly to their homes. The service is designed to eliminate the need for a traditional doctor’s visit and does not require a needle for vaccine administration.
According to Polaris Rx, FluMist Home remains the first at-home influenza vaccine service of its kind to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For the 2026–2027 influenza season, the service is available across all 48 contiguous U.S. states.
Polaris Rx Continues Exclusive Distribution Role
The selection of Polaris Rx for a second consecutive year reflects the company’s continued role in the operational infrastructure supporting FluMist Home.
As exclusive U.S. distributor, Polaris Rx is responsible for dispensing and shipping the vaccine through specialized pharmacy operations. The company says it has continued to strengthen its systems and capabilities following the first year of the program, including investments in patient management, data collection and cold chain logistics.
For vaccines and other temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, maintaining appropriate storage and transportation conditions is an important part of distribution. Polaris Rx has expanded its cold chain capabilities to address the specialized temperature-control requirements associated with FluMist.
“Being selected for a second year as the exclusive distributor for FluMist Home is a strong validation of the systems and standards we’ve built at Polaris Rx,” said Doug Massey, Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Rx.
Massey said the company is proud to continue its partnership with AstraZeneca and remains focused on making preventive care more convenient for patients.
The renewed agreement also highlights the operational requirements associated with delivering vaccines directly to consumers. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional healthcare settings, the FluMist Home model integrates online ordering, pharmacy dispensing, temperature-controlled logistics and home delivery into a single pathway.
FluMist Home Expands At-Home Vaccination Access
FluMist Home is intended to provide an alternative way for eligible individuals to receive influenza vaccination.
The service allows individuals to order FluMist online and have it shipped directly to their homes. Unlike injectable influenza vaccines, FluMist is administered as a nasal spray, meaning that the vaccination process does not require a needle.
The at-home model is designed to simplify access to seasonal influenza vaccination by moving part of the process from conventional clinical settings into the home.
For the 2026–2027 flu season, FluMist Home is available throughout the contiguous United States. Individuals can use the program to determine whether they meet the eligibility requirements and access the service through the FluMist website.
The expansion of home-based healthcare services has created new operational requirements for pharmacies and other healthcare organizations, particularly for products that require specialized storage and transportation. FluMist Home’s distribution model therefore depends on the coordination of pharmacy operations, technology infrastructure and temperature-controlled shipping.
Polaris Rx’s continued involvement is intended to support these requirements while maintaining the distribution processes established during the program’s first year.
Partnership with Asembia and ASPN Pharmacies
Polaris Rx is continuing its collaboration with Asembia, its HUB services partner, and ASPN Pharmacies, which provides the technology platform and backend services supporting the program.
The collaboration brings together pharmacy distribution capabilities and technology infrastructure to support the patient journey from online ordering through dispensing and delivery.
As part of its responsibilities for the 2026–2027 season, Polaris Rx will dispense and ship FluMist from two state-of-the-art pharmacy locations.
The company has also continued investing in its patient management and data collection platform. These systems are intended to help support program operations and provide the infrastructure necessary to manage patients and distribution activities at scale.
The combination of pharmacy operations and digital infrastructure is particularly important for an at-home vaccination program because the process requires coordination among patients, technology systems, pharmacies and delivery services.
Polaris Rx’s continued investment in these capabilities reflects its effort to build an operational platform capable of supporting specialized pharmaceutical products and emerging models of healthcare delivery.
Focus on Cold Chain Logistics
Cold chain management represents another central component of the FluMist Home distribution program.
Temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products require controlled storage and transportation conditions to help maintain product quality throughout the distribution process. Delivering such products directly to patients adds logistical complexity because the shipment must remain within appropriate temperature parameters as it moves from the pharmacy to the patient’s home.
Polaris Rx has continued to invest in advanced cold chain capabilities as part of its support for FluMist Home.
The company says these investments reinforce its focus on operational excellence and patient care while addressing the specialized requirements associated with home delivery of the vaccine.
Andrew Leone, Executive Director of Marketing and Sales, U.S. Infectious Disease, at AstraZeneca, said the continued relationship with Polaris Rx reflects the company’s capabilities in supporting the FluMist Home program.
“Our continued partnership with Polaris Rx is a testament to the reliability, innovation, and quality they bring to the FluMist Home program,” Leone said.
He also pointed to Polaris Rx’s experience with cold chain logistics and its focus on preventive care as important elements of the partnership as AstraZeneca continues efforts to bring influenza vaccination into homes across the country.
Building on the Program’s First Year
The 2026–2027 season marks the second consecutive year that Polaris Rx has served as the exclusive U.S. distributor for FluMist Home.
The continuation of the partnership provides an opportunity to build on the operational experience gained during the program’s initial year. Polaris Rx has used that experience to continue developing its patient management infrastructure, data collection capabilities and cold chain operations.
The company says these efforts are intended to support a consistent experience for individuals accessing FluMist through the home-based service.
The model also demonstrates how pharmacy services are increasingly being integrated with digital ordering and home delivery. While pharmacies have traditionally played an important role in dispensing prescription and preventive health products, newer healthcare models are increasingly connecting pharmacy operations with online platforms and direct-to-consumer services.
For FluMist Home, these components are integrated into a system that allows eligible individuals to access the vaccine without a traditional in-person doctor’s visit.
Role in Preventive Healthcare
Seasonal influenza vaccination remains an important component of preventive healthcare, and the FluMist Home program is designed to provide an additional access pathway for eligible individuals.
By offering an at-home option, the program seeks to make the vaccination process more convenient for people who prefer or require access outside conventional healthcare settings.
For Polaris Rx, the continued agreement with AstraZeneca represents an extension of its role in supporting specialized pharmaceutical distribution and home-based healthcare services.
The company provides long-term care, specialty and infusion pharmacy solutions and has developed operational capabilities around products that require specialized handling and patient support. Its involvement in FluMist Home expands those capabilities into a consumer-oriented preventive care model.
The program also brings together several aspects of modern pharmaceutical distribution, including digital ordering, pharmacy dispensing, patient management, data collection and temperature-controlled delivery.
As the 2026–2027 influenza season approaches, Polaris Rx and its partners will continue supporting the availability of FluMist Home throughout the contiguous United States.
Patients interested in the service can visit the official FluMist website to learn more about FluMist Home and determine whether they meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
The renewed distribution agreement between Polaris Rx and AstraZeneca underscores the growing role of pharmacy infrastructure in supporting alternative healthcare delivery models. By continuing to invest in cold chain logistics, patient management technology and specialized dispensing capabilities, Polaris Rx is positioned to support the next season of FluMist Home as the at-home vaccination service enters its second year of U.S. distribution.
About Polaris Rx
Experience the future of pharmacy care with Polaris Rx. As leaders in specialty, infusion, long-term and post-acute care, corrections, and PACE pharmacy solutions, Polaris Rx is elevating pharmacy standards by combining clinical expertise with advanced technology to improve outcomes, optimize costs, and enhance the patient experience. Founded in 2015, Polaris Rx is independently owned with more than 20 pharmacies nationwide.