Dosing, Administration & Storage

FluMist® is administered intranasally; active inhalation (i.e., sniffing) by the patient is not required. Watch this video to learn how to store FluMist in your office, and how to administer it to your eligible patients 2 years to 49 years old.

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Select Safety Information

FluMist is contraindicated in persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component including egg protein, gentamicin, gelatin, and arginine, or after a previous dose of any influenza vaccine, and in children and adolescents receiving concomitant aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy.

Dr Block was compensated for his participation in this FluMist presentation.

FluMist Dosing EXPAND HIDE

Each sprayer contains a single dose of FluMist. Approximately one-half of the contents should be sprayed in each nostril. FluMist should be administered according to the following schedule1,2:

Age Group Vaccination Status Dosage Schedule
Children
2-8 years of age		 Not previously
vaccinated with
influenza vaccine		 2 doses (0.2 mL* each,
at least 1 month apart)
for initial season
Children
2-8 years of age		 Received less than
2 doses of influenza
vaccine since July 2010		 2 doses (0.2 mL* each,
at least 1 month apart)
for initial season
Children
2-8 years of age		 Received at least
2 doses of influenza
vaccine since July 2010		 1 dose (0.2 mL*)
per season
Children,
adolescents, & adults
9-49 years of age		 Not applicable 1 dose (0.2 mL*)
per season

*Administer as 0.1 mL per nostril.1

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The CDC/ACIP* recommends universal influenza vaccination for people 6 months and older.3 See specific Prescribing Information for each manufacturer's influenza vaccine, as not all influenza vaccines are indicated for all ages.
View the latest 2012-2013 ACIP Influenza Vaccine Dosing Recommendations


*CDC/ACIP = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Storage EXPAND HIDE

  • STORE REFRIGERATED — DO NOT FREEZE
  • FluMist is supplied for intranasal delivery in packages of 10 pre-filled, single-use sprayers
  • FluMist should be stored in a refrigerator between 2°-8°C (35°-46°F) upon receipt and until use before the expiration date. Do not freeze
  • The cold chain (2°-8°C) must be maintained when transporting FluMist
  • View Prescribing Informationarrow
Important Safety Information

FluMist® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) is a vaccine indicated for active immunization of persons 2-49 years of age for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza A subtype viruses and the type B virus contained in the vaccine. FluMist is for intranasal administration only.

FluMist is contraindicated in persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component including egg protein, gentamicin, gelatin, and arginine, or after a previous dose of any influenza vaccine, and in children and adolescents receiving concomitant aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy.

In clinical trials, the risks of hospitalization and wheezing were increased in children <2 years of age who received FluMist. Children <5 years of age with recurrent wheezing and persons of any age with asthma may be at increased risk of wheezing following FluMist administration. FluMist has not been studied in persons with severe asthma or active wheezing.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred within 6 weeks of any prior influenza vaccination, the decision to give FluMist should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. The effectiveness of FluMist has not been studied in immunocompromised persons. The safety of FluMist in individuals with underlying medical conditions predisposing them to wild-type influenza infection complications has not been established. FluMist may not protect all individuals receiving the vaccine.

The most common solicited adverse reactions (occurring at ≥10% in FluMist recipients and at least 5% greater than in placebo recipients) were runny nose or nasal congestion in recipients of all persons 2-49 years, fever >100℉ in children 2-6 years, and sore throat in adults 18-49 years.

Please see accompanying complete Prescribing Information for FluMist, including Patient Information.

References
  1. FluMist [package insert]. Gaithersburg, MD: Medlmmune, LLC.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) -- United States, 2012-2013 influenza season. MMWR. 2012 Aug 17;61(32):613-618.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on lmmunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR. 2010 Aug 6;59(RR-8):1-62.