FluMist Flu Vaccine Shipped to Pharmacies in the USA

AstraZeneca announced the initial shipment of FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT for the 2018-2019 influenza season in the USA.

While the FluMist has begun shipping to wholesalers, the list of retail pharmacies has not yet been released.  

FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT, or the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), is sprayed into the nose to help protect against influenza. It can be used for children, adolescents, and adults ages 2 through 49.

Similar to other influenza vaccines, FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT may not prevent influenza in everyone who gets vaccinated, says AstraZeneca in a press release. 

“FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT is the only CDC recommended needle-free, nasal spray flu vaccine and has been approved in the US since 2012,” said Tosh Butt, Vice President, US Respiratory, AstraZeneca.   

Earlier this year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reinstated the recommendation for the use of FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT/LAIV as an option for flu vaccination in the US for the 2018-2019 flu season. 

This CDC recommendation stated on August 24, 2018, that there is no preference for one flu vaccine product over another, including FluMist.

Additionally, Public Health England (PHE) published provisional end-of-season adjusted vaccine effectiveness estimates from the 2017-2018 flu season.

The PHE provisional results demonstrated FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT (known as FLUENZ™ TETRA in the European Union) provided statistically significant vaccine effectiveness against A/H1N1 strains during the 2017-2018 season in children 2 to 17 years of age.

This study published on July 18, 2018, used a test-negative case-control design through five primary care influenza sentinel swabbing surveillance schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These data support the real-world effectiveness of the new FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT A/H1N1 strain.

FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT/FLUENZ TETRA is approved for use in the US, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong, and the European Union.

Those interested in receiving FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT should talk to their healthcare provider about their vaccination options.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector prices for general information.

Flu vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.