FDA approves Moderna’s first mRNA flu vaccine for older adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna’s mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based influenza vaccine for adults aged 50 and older. This new vaccine utilizes the same messenger RNA technology employed in COVID-19 vaccines, providing genetic instructions that teach cells to produce a viral protein to trigger an immune response.

Unlike traditional flu shots that use inactivated or weakened virus fragments, the mRNA platform allows for faster production and more precise responses to mutating strains. Clinical trials involving 40,000 participants showed the vaccine was 26.6% more effective than conventional seasonal doses.

Independent advisory committees voted unanimously that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks. The vaccine is expected to be available this fall, offering a new tool to combat influenza, which causes significant hospitalizations and deaths annually.