FDA Approves Moderna's First mRNA Flu Vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna's new mRNA-based influenza vaccine for adults aged 50 and older, marking the first influenza vaccine to use messenger RNA technology.

According to the report, the approval introduces the same Nobel Prize-winning platform previously used in COVID-19 vaccines to help protect against seasonal influenza.

The report said mRNA technology enables vaccine manufacturers to respond more quickly to changes in circulating flu viruses than traditional production methods.

In a clinical study involving 40,000 adults aged 50 to 64, Moderna's vaccine reduced influenza cases by approximately 27 percent. The FDA also granted accelerated approval for adults aged 65 and older.

The report said the most commonly reported side effects included temporary injection-site pain and fever, while clinical trial data identified no major safety concerns.

The approval provides older adults with a new vaccination option as health officials prepare for the fall influenza season.

Related Tweet:

The FDA has approved the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, paving the way for a new type of shot that will be available for adults 50 and over looking to get immunized against the respiratory illness, Moderna announced. https://t.co/ux77nl8Ev7

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 6, 2026

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tippinsightsTIPP Staff