In the USA, the first nasal vaccine against common types of influenza was approved

The vaccine can be administered only to people who have reached the age of 18

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In the USA, the use of a nasal vaccine against the most common types of influenza – A and B – has been approved. The tool can be administered independently at home without the help or supervision of a medical professional.

It is about a product called FluMist produced by AstraZeneca, which was received on September 20 approval US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), informs The Reuters.

FluMist is the first flu vaccine against subtypes A and B that people ages 2 to 49 can use without the help of a healthcare professional by safely spraying it into the nose.

Instead, the manufacturers note that only people who have reached the age of 18 can self-inject the drug. In order to protect children from the virus, adults must administer the vaccine.

“The approval of the first (nasal – ed.) influenza vaccine for self-administration or caregiver administration provides a new option for obtaining a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine, potentially with greater convenience, flexibility and affordability.”said Peter Marks, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

As point out at AstraZeneca, FluMist contains a weakened form of live strains of the flu virus that is intended to be sprayed into the nose.

The company’s tests have shown that after reading the instructions, 100% of adults are able to inject a full dose of the vaccine into the body. This way of using the medicine does not reduce its effectiveness.

The US Food and Drug Administration notes that the most common side effect of the vaccine is fever, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature to more than +37.8 °C. Nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat are also among the possible reactions.

You need a prescription from your doctor to get FluMist. The drug can be administered by a specialist in a medical institution, a pharmacy, or by the recipient himself.

In the near future, the company plans to launch the option of ordering the vaccine online.

We will remind flu – a highly infectious viral disease that can lead to severe complications and even death.

The symptoms of the disease resemble those of other acute respiratory viral infections. Instead, the flu is considered one of the most dangerous diseases, especially for people at high risk, such as the elderly, children and those with chronic medical conditions.

Usually, the flu virus circulates in autumn and winter, but every new season it mutates, which causes changes in the course of the disease.

The best way to protect yourself from the disease is to get an annual vaccination, which is a safe and effective form of protection against all strains of influenza.

We will remind you that medical products against influenza belong to the recommended vaccinations, but are not available in national calendartherefore the state does not cover their cost. Ukrainians can purchase the vaccine at pharmacies at their own expense and get vaccinated at a health care facility.

Formerly the World Health Organization updated a list of the most dangerous viruses and bacteria that could potentially cause another pandemic.