Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine (FluMist^®)

You have probably seen ads for nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist®) on television for the first time this year. A quick listen and you may think it is over-the-counter. As it is not, we are providing this information for your reference and to share with your team members as you feel appropriate.

FluMist is a live virus vaccine against influenza that has been available in the United States for more than 20 years. It is an alternative to injectable influenza vaccine and contains the same virus strains as the injectable vaccine.

FluMist is approved for use in the following individuals:

• Healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49
• Women in this age range who are not pregnant

FluMist cannot be given to the following individuals:

• Children younger than 2 years old
• Adults 50 years and older
• People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine (except for egg protein) or to a previous dose of any flu vaccine
• Children 2 through 17 years old who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications
• Children 2 through 4 years old who have asthma or who have had a history of wheezing in the past 12 months
• People with weakened immune systems (immunosuppression) from any cause
• People who care for severely immunocompromised persons who require a protected environment (or otherwise avoid contact with those persons for 7 days after getting the nasal spray vaccine)
• People without a spleen, or with a non-functioning spleen
• Pregnant women
• People with an active leak between the cerebrospinal fluid and the mouth, nose, ear, or other place within the skull
• People with cochlear implants
• People who have taken flu antiviral drugs within a certain amount of time (within the past 48 hours for oseltamivir and zanamivir, the past 5 days for peramivir, and the past 17 days for baloxavir)

In addition, the following medical conditions are precautions to the use of the nasal spray flu vaccine:

• Asthma in people 5 years and older
• Other underlying medical conditions that can put people at higher risk of serious flu complications. These include conditions such as lung disease, heart disease (except isolated hypertension), kidney or liver disorders, neurologic/neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (like diabetes).
• Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome within six weeks following a previous dose of flu vaccine

In 2024 the Food and Drug Administration approved FluMist for self-administration by individuals. It can only be obtained with an online order using this link:  FluMist^® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) | Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine and is sent directly to the ordering person’s home.

Froedtert Workforce Health does not provide FluMist through our influenza vaccination program. We provide injectable vaccine which can be administered to most individuals safely. Please contact us for additional information about our influenza vaccination program.