Key takeaways:
FluMist is the nasal spray flu vaccine. It’s the only flu vaccine that you can give to yourself or loved ones at home.
Knowing how to administer FluMist helps you get your full dose. You need to spray the vaccine into your nose, making sure your head is upright. A clip on the plunger helps make sure you spray the right amount of FluMist into each nostril.
It’s best to use FluMist in the fall, ideally by the end of October. But FluMist isn’t right for everyone. Your healthcare team can tell you if this flu vaccine option is safe for you.
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When the fall season arrives, so do all the signs at pharmacies urging people to get their yearly flu vaccine. But life is busy, and it can be tough to find time to go get yours. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to have the vaccine come to you? The good news: Now there is.
In September 2024, the FDA approved FluMist (nasal spray flu vaccine) for self-administration and caregiver administration. This made it the first vaccine to be approved for people to give to themselves or a loved one at home.
If you’re considering this option for your yearly flu vaccine, there are some things to keep in mind. Knowing how to administer FluMist is crucial, because improper use may cause the vaccine not to work as well.
What is FluMist?
FluMist is one of the available flu vaccines that’s recommended this year. It’s FDA-approved for people ages 2 to 49. Unlike most vaccines, it’s a nasal spray (not an injection). So if you don’t like needles, you may prefer this option.
FluMist is a live, attenuated vaccine. This means it contains live, but weakened flu strains. This can help stimulate a stronger immune response. But as we’ll discuss later, it’s not right for everyone.
What is the recommended FluMist dosage?
Similar to other flu vaccines, most people should receive 1 dose of FluMist once a year in the fall. But children under age 9 who are receiving their very first flu vaccine may need to receive 2 doses. In this case, doses should be separated by at least 4 weeks. Your child’s pediatrician can let you know if they should receive 1 or 2 doses of the flu vaccine.
Good to know: Getting your flu vaccine yearly is important because your immunity to the flu vaccine weakens after several months. What’s more, the flu virus mutates over time. The flu vaccines are changed slightly every year to help target the strains that are most likely to be circulating during that flu season.
How to administer FluMist at home in 13 steps
FluMist is designed to be easy to use. But only adults ages 18 and older should self-administer it. Children ages 2 to 17 should have a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult give them their dose.
The 13 steps below explain how to administer FluMist:
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure your hands are fully dry before continuing.
Open the box and remove the FluMist sprayer. Grab it by the sprayer barrel — not the tip or plunger.
Check the sprayer’s expiration date and appearance. The liquid inside the sprayer barrel should be colorless or pale yellow and clear to slightly cloudy. Don’t administer FluMist if it’s expired or appears discolored.
Don’t try to remove air bubbles. Small amounts of air in FluMist sprayers are normal and help deliver the full dose.
While holding the sprayer barrel with one hand, use your other hand to carefully remove the gray cap from the tip. Don’t remove the plastic clip (the dose divider clip) from the plunger yet.
Make sure your or your loved one’s head is upright. Standing or sitting upright in a chair are good positions.
Place the white sprayer tip inside one nostril. You don’t need to place it too far in. Don’t insert the entire tip.
Press the plunger as quickly as you can until it hits the dose divider clip. You can breathe normally. You don’t need to sniff during this step.
Remove the sprayer from the nostril. If liquid drips out of the nose, that’s OK and expected. Just wipe it away with a tissue.
Hold the sprayer body with one hand. Remove the dose divider clip from the plunger with your other hand.
Place the sprayer tip into the other nostril, similar to how you placed it in the first nostril.
With your or your loved one’s head upright, push the plunger as quickly as possible. Keep pushing it until the plunger stops.
Remove the sprayer from the nostril. Use a tissue to wipe away any liquid that drips out of the nose. But don’t actively blow your nose to remove excess fluid.
When you receive FluMist at home, it should come with a return shipping envelope. Place the empty sprayer in this envelope and mail it back according to the directions.
Don’t throw used FluMist sprayers in your normal trash. Since FluMist is a live (but weakened) vaccine, it’s considered medical waste. And there are strict regulations on how to dispose of the vaccine and its empty sprayer.
When should you use FluMist?
The best time to use FluMist is in the fall. It’s recommended to get your annual flu vaccine before the end of October. This ensures you receive the vaccination a few weeks before flu season starts (which can be as early as October). It takes your immune system about 2 weeks to protect you after receiving FluMist.
If it’s already past October, you should still get your flu vaccine. Just get it as soon as you can. Late vaccination is better than no vaccination.
Who should not use FluMist?
FluMist isn’t right for everyone. You should not use FluMist if you or the person you’re using it on:
Are under age 2
Are age 50 and older
Are pregnant
Have had a severe allergic reaction to any flu vaccine
Are age 2 to 17 and take medications that contain aspirin or salicylates (medications that are chemically similar to aspirin)
Are age 2 to 4 and have recurrent (periodic) wheezing
Have severe asthma or active wheezing
Have a weakened immune system
Take medications that weaken the immune system, such as prednisone
Have recently taken flu antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) — your healthcare team can tell you how long you need to separate them
Are living without a spleen or have a spleen that doesn’t work as expected
Will be around others with weakened immune systems during the 7 days after administering FluMist
Have a leak of the fluid in your brain or spinal cord
Have cochlear implants (implantable devices that can help provide sound for certain people who are Deaf or have severe hearing difficulties)
There are also people who should ask a healthcare professional before using FluMist. These people may still be able to receive the nasal flu vaccine. But they may have a higher risk of certain side effects. Discuss FluMist with your healthcare team if you or the person you’re using it on:
Are age 5 or older and have asthma
Are living with other chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease
Are currently sick
Have experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving a flu vaccine in the past
Good to know: FluMist is made with chicken eggs. However, most people with egg allergies can safely receive any flu vaccine that’s approved for their age range. If you’re concerned about your personal risks, discuss it with your healthcare team. There are egg-free alternatives available, but they’re not nasal spray flu vaccines.
What should you do if you don’t administer FluMist properly?
In some cases, you may need to give a second dose if you used FluMist improperly. If you think you’ve administered it incorrectly, contact your primary care provider. You can also call FluMist’s support line at 1-877-633-4411. They can help determine if you need a second dose.
Keep in mind that sneezing after administering FluMist is normal. This doesn’t stop you from getting your full dose. And you don’t need to repeat the vaccine.
How to save on FluMist
There are ways to save on FluMist. Many health insurance plans fully cover the cost of flu vaccines. If you have commercial insurance, you may only need to pay an $8.99 shipping and processing fee to access FluMist for home delivery.
If you don’t have commercial insurance, you’re not eligible to get FluMist delivered to you. You’ll need to visit a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, to receive it. Many insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover flu vaccines at no cost when you receive them from a healthcare professional.
If you’re uninsured or underinsured, GoodRx can help you save. At certain pharmacies, you can find FluMist prices as low as $33.40 with a free GoodRx discount. There are also many programs available to help you access low-cost or free flu vaccines.
The bottom line
FluMist (nasal spray flu vaccine) is a flu vaccine that you can give to yourself or a loved one at home. Knowing how to administer FluMist is key to getting your full dose. You’ll need to spray the vaccine into your nose while standing or sitting upright. A clip on the plunger helps make sure you spray the right amount into each nostril.
It’s recommended to get an annual flu vaccine in the fall before the end of October. But FluMist isn’t right for everyone. Ask your healthcare team whether you can receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. (2026). Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, 2026–2027: Policy statement. Pediatrics.
FluMist. (2024). FluMist instructions for use.
FluMist. (n.d.). Ordering & using FluMist at home.
MedImmune. (2026). FluMist- influenza vaccine live intranasal spray [package insert]. DailyMed.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024). Cochlear implants. National Institutes of Health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2026). Get vaccinated: How to pay.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). FDA approves nasal spray influenza vaccine for self- or caregiver-administration.
World Health Organization. (2024). Health-care waste.
