FDA Clears First mRNA Flu Vaccine, Moderna Targets Quick Rollout

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the country’s first mRNA-based influenza vaccine, developed by Moderna.

The vaccine is approved for adults aged 50 to 64 and those 65 and older. The company said it will conduct a post-market study to further evaluate effectiveness in the older age group.

Moderna said it expects the vaccine to be available in the U.S. for the 2026–2027 flu season.

In late-stage trials, the shot was about 27 percent more effective than a standard-dose flu vaccine in adults aged 50 and above. In a smaller study of those 65 and older, it produced a strong immune response compared with an existing high-dose flu vaccine used for seniors.

Flu vaccines are already available but take longer to produce and are less adaptable to changes in circulating strains. Moderna said its mRNA platform can produce vaccines within two to three months of identifying a seasonal strain, roughly half the time required for conventional vaccines. The technology also allows updates later in the season if needed.

The approval comes amid criticism of mRNA vaccines from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His department last year canceled nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA research.

The vaccine is expected to be reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel is currently unable to meet under its existing structure following a federal court ruling.

The vaccine can still be prescribed, but insurance coverage may depend on formal recommendations.