New flu vaccine mFlusiva is approved for older people
The FDA has approved Moderna's new mRNA-based flu vaccine, mFlusiva, for adults aged 50 and older. This marks the first time mRNA technology, previously used for COVID-19, has been applied to a flu vaccine to potentially improve efficacy and manufacturing speed.
Why it matters
This approval represents a significant technological advancement in preventative medicine, offering a new tool to combat seasonal influenza, which remains a major health risk for older populations.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new kind of flu vaccine for older people, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturer Moderna said.
The shot, named mFlusiva, is intended for adults age 50 or older. Other brands of flu shots already have begun arriving in pharmacies ahead of fall vaccination season, and Moderna said late Wednesday that it expects some of its new version to be available soon at select retailers.
While there already are multiple flu vaccine options in the U.S., including three specifically recommended for people age 65 or older, tens of thousands of Americans die from influenza every year and older adults are among the most vulnerable.
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