Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca PLC made a significant announcement on Friday, launching its home-use nasal flu vaccine spray amid ongoing controversies surrounding vaccine accessibility in the United States. FluMist Home is the same product as the company's seasonal flu vaccine spray that has been administered by clinicians for the past two decades. FluMist Home received FDA approval last fall for individuals aged 2 and above.

Driven by the global innovative drug investment boom and strong revenue performance from AstraZeneca's anti-cancer "innovative drug fleet" portfolio, AstraZeneca (AZN.US) has surged 22% year-to-date in the US stock market, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index.

AstraZeneca's Q2 earnings report showed that its cancer-fighting drug portfolio generated $6.3 billion in overall revenue during the second quarter, far exceeding Wall Street analyst expectations, primarily driven by strong demand for innovative drugs including Tagrisso and Imfinzi. Tagrisso generated $1.8 billion in product revenue for AstraZeneca in the second quarter, up 13% year-over-year, while Imfinzi achieved $1.5 billion in product revenue during the same period, representing a substantial 30% year-over-year increase. Both products exceeded Wall Street expectations.

"Now, families can choose to order this nasal spray vaccine online, determine delivery dates and times, and the product will come with instructions on how to administer it," said Andrew Leone, Executive Director of Marketing for the company's US Vaccines & Immune Therapies division, at a media event in Philadelphia on Thursday.

FluMist Home is only available to insured individuals. Leone stated that customers with insurance only need to pay $8.99 for shipping and handling fees. A company spokesperson said customers without insurance coverage can pay approximately $70.

To obtain the spray, customers need to complete an online medical questionnaire that includes their insurance information. The product launch comes during a period of broader vaccine policy turbulence in the United States. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime "anti-vaccine" advocate who serves as Secretary of Health and Human Services, dismissed all members of the influential vaccine committee—the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He will replace them with his own selections, some of whom are skeptical of vaccines.

The Department of Health and Human Services has even canceled mRNA vaccine research contracts and withdrawn official recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children.

Flu vaccination rates have steadily declined since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 46% of US adults received flu vaccines during the last flu season, down from about half five years ago. According to preliminary data, the 2024-2025 flu season resulted in at least approximately 27,000 deaths, including 267 children. Almost all of these children were not fully immunized.

"The more people we can get vaccinated, the more protection we can provide for everyone," said Tonya Villafana, Vice President of Medical & Scientific Affairs for AstraZeneca's Vaccines & Immune Therapies division at the event.

The medication will be shipped in refrigerated containers, and if administration cannot occur immediately, customers should place the package in their refrigerator. Patients can scan a QR code with their phones to ensure temperature control before use. If the product fails to maintain the correct temperature, customers will receive alerts and can work with pharmacies to obtain replacements.

Leone stated that the product will include instructions on how to report vaccination status to state health departments or local physicians. At the launch event, Brandon Jones, General Manager of an AstraZeneca manufacturing facility, said that the Philadelphia production infrastructure manufacturing FluMist Home is one of 11 sites in the United States and serves 20 countries.

UK-based AstraZeneca has committed to investing approximately $50 billion in the United States by 2030 for manufacturing and research and development projects in the US market. During an earnings call with journalists in July, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot stated that the company has headquarters and large manufacturing facilities in the United States, and the impending Trump administration's drug tariffs are expected to have minimal impact on the company.