Needle-phobic? FluMist nasal spray vaccine available in lieu of flu shot

Doctors are hoping that the first nasal flu vaccine available for use at home can improve vaccination rates among people who are afraid of needles.

More children died from the flu this past season than any year outside of the swine flu pandemic in 2009. Most of them were unvaccinated.

That's why some doctors are hoping that the first nasal flu vaccine available for use at home can improve vaccination rates among people, especially children, who are afraid of needles.

AstraZeneca's FluMist Home, which was approved last fall, is now available with a prescription for children ages 2 and over, and adults up to age 49.

A 2019 review from researchers at the University of Michigan found the majority of children and up to 30% of young adults are afraid of needles.

Dr. Zachary Hoy, board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, said many children are scared because they aren't old enough to understand what vaccines are and why they are important.