The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna's mRNA seasonal flu vaccine, branded mFlusiva, on August 5 for people aged 50 and older; the first mRNA-based flu shot cleared for seasonal use and a platform extension of the technology that carried COVID-19 vaccines to billions of arms.
The vaccine joins a field that still includes standard-dose inactivated shots grown in eggs or cell culture, high-dose and adjuvanted formulations for older adults, a nasal spray for eligible patients, and Novavax's protein-based option for those aged 12 and up.
What mRNA Brings to Flu
mRNA platforms can be designed and manufactured faster than traditional egg-based production, a property that matters most in years when the vaccine strain match turns out poorly. This season's early surveillance shows the H1N1pdm09 strain dominating, a mix that will test how well the 2026-27 formulations perform.
The Season Ahead
The CDC continues to recommend a flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older, ideally by the end of October, and says patients can receive flu and COVID shots in the same visit. With respiratory virus season approaching and measles cases rising nationally, public health officials are watching uptake numbers more closely than usual.
