AstraZeneca Launches Home Delivery Service For Its Self-Administrable Flu Vaccine

AstraZeneca (AZN) on Friday launched an at-home delivery service for its Flumist influenza vaccine ahead of the upcoming flu season.

Flumist is a vaccine that is sprayed into the nose to help protect against influenza in people aged two through 49 years. However, it may not prevent influenza in everyone who gets vaccinated, the company stated.

The vaccine was initially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2003. It can be self-administered by adults 18 to 49 years of age or administered by a parent or caregiver to individuals aged 2-17 years.

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around AZN rose from ‘bearish’ to ‘neutral’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at ‘low’ levels.

Adults aged 18 and older can visit the Flumist website and click to order, following which they will be directed to complete a medical screening questionnaire. These submissions will then be reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider with ASPN Pharmacies, an independent online specialty pharmacy, to determine eligibility.

Once eligibility is confirmed and insurance verified, the vaccine will be prescribed and shipped to the consumer’s home by Polaris Pharmacy Services, a specialty pharmacy, in temperature-controlled packages.

The vaccine will be delivered with clear administration instructions, storage guidance, and disposal instructions, AstraZeneca said. Once received, the vaccine should be stored in the refrigerator until use. The home delivery service will be available only in 34 states for the upcoming flu season due to local pharmacy laws, the company said. However, AstraZeneca is eyeing making the service available across all 48 contiguous states in future seasons.

Flumist, meanwhile, will continue to be available in doctors’ offices and pharmacies for administration by healthcare professionals across the nation, the company added.

AZN stock is up by 20% this year but down by about 8% over the past 12 months.

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