Patients could get at-home flu vaccine as early as next year

FDA approves at-home flu vaccine

The latest local, regional and national news events of the day are presented by the ABC 6 News Team, along with updated sports, weather and traffic.

(KSTP) — It’s that time of year — time to get your flu shots. But next year, you could get vaccinated for the flu at home.

Just last month, the FDA approved FluMist, a nasal-spray flu vaccine that can be done at home.

The at-home FluMist vaccine will be for patients ages 2 to 49 years old. Patients can place an order online, complete a medical questionnaire, select delivery/payment options and the FluMist will be delivered to your home. Home delivery is anticipated to be available for the 2025-2026 flu season.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, so far, only about 13% of all Minnesotans had been vaccinated for the flu by mid-October this year.

“I’m optimistic this will increase our flu vaccine coverage,” said Dr. Anne Frosch with Hennepin Healthcare.

Frosch says they are already getting a lot of questions from eager patients about the at-home FluMist, and she hopes that the convenience of an at-home option could raise vaccination rates.

“I think there is a large group of people who want a vaccine but just don’t have time to go to a facility or into a pharmacy to get it,” she said.

The current out-of-pocket cost for FluMist is about $40. It’s too early to say how insurance plans will cover this new option.