{"id":29624,"date":"2026-08-06T08:46:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T03:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29624"},"modified":"2026-08-06T08:46:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T03:46:05","slug":"fda-approves-modernas-mrna-seasonal-flu-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29624","title":{"rendered":"FDA approves Moderna&#8217;s mRNA seasonal flu vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna&#8217;s mRNA seasonal flu vaccine on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The vaccine, mFLUSIVA, is expected to be available for people 50 and older for the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFLUSIVA provides an important new option for America&#8217;s seniors. This approval also reflects the ongoing potential of our mRNA platform to help address important public health challenges through continued scientific innovation,&#8221; St\u00e9phane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">In this Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, the Moderna, Inc. headquarters is shown in Cambridge, Mass.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Elise Amendola\/AP, FILE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In a clinical trial for people aged 50 to 64, the mRNA vaccine led to 27% fewer confirmed flu cases than the current standard vaccine.<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->The safety<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->profile for Moderna\u2019s vaccine and the current standard<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->was about the same, but more people taking the mRNA vaccine reported side effects; those were<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->mostly<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->mild and lasted two days or less.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">For people<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->65 and older, a high-dose vaccine is<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->currently<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->recommended. Moderna said it will keep data this winter on how mFlusiva does compared to the current high-dose vaccine and submit that to the FDA to see if the vaccine remains approved for that population.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Earlier this year, the FDA announced it would not review Moderna&#8217;s application for the vaccine. However, the agency backtracked and agreed to review the shot after Moderna promised to conduct another study after the shot became available on the market.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur \" style=\"padding-bottom:57.89473684210527%\" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/6cfa42da-07a5-4ac3-9d83-ca9f49ecf1d7\/fluvaccine_1785985147541_hpEmbed_19x11.jpeg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/6cfa42da-07a5-4ac3-9d83-ca9f49ecf1d7\/fluvaccine_1785985147541_hpEmbed_19x11.jpeg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/6cfa42da-07a5-4ac3-9d83-ca9f49ecf1d7\/fluvaccine_1785985147541_hpEmbed_19x11.jpeg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/6cfa42da-07a5-4ac3-9d83-ca9f49ecf1d7\/fluvaccine_1785985147541_hpEmbed_19x11.jpeg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/6cfa42da-07a5-4ac3-9d83-ca9f49ecf1d7\/fluvaccine_1785985147541_hpEmbed_19x11.jpeg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna&#8217;s mRNA seasonal flu vaccine on Wednesday.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Moderna<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been vocal about his disapproval of the mRNA vaccine platform. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services canceled<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.com%2FHealth%2Frfk-jr-cancels-500m-mrna-vaccine-funding-implications%2Fstory%3Fid%3D124406624&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C1bfbc7e4839e4c01942708def33c9c95%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639215638821748261%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=RE1abh2K58i17bOj%2FZ8ahnZHUsFNVVrHOJZI9ITb%2FkU%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" dir=\"ltr\">at least $500 million of federally funded mRNA vaccine development<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In a<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hhs.gov%2Fpress-room%2Fhhs-winds-down-mrna-development-under-barda.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C1bfbc7e4839e4c01942708def33c9c95%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639215638821778608%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6zSy2lufhcqt%2FpupYd3rKbJX%2FCQh3HCNqQGJt30qyDc%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" dir=\"ltr\">press release announcing the cancellation of mRNA vaccine funding<\/a>, Kennedy said that funding was going towards &#8220;safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate,&#8221; despite infectious disease experts and vaccinologists saying the mRNA platform is safe. Kennedy also falsely claimed mRNA vaccines can prolong pandemics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Vaccine<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->specialists have<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->emphasized that using the mRNA vaccine platform would help expedite production of shots and allow vaccines to better match currently circulating strains of viruses,<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->because they can be produced quicker than the traditional way.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The flu vaccine is currently recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months by the<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fflu%2Fvaccines%2Findex.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C1bfbc7e4839e4c01942708def33c9c95%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639215638821800065%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=sty3zU1cYObfxqxbN5jsi4N6g1lvJvChcqShB5wM69Q%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" dir=\"ltr\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">It is typically recommended to receive the shot before the end of October. The vaccine helps reduce the risk of severe illness, including hospitalization and death.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \"><em class=\" \">This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna&#8217;s mRNA seasonal flu vaccine on Wednesday. The vaccine, mFLUSIVA, is expected to be available for people 50 and older for the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season.\u00a0 &#8220;Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFLUSIVA provides an important new option for America&#8217;s seniors. This approval also reflects the ongoing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3b08c815-c6da-4611-b679-d2bc4c6794a3\/moderna-hq-ap-jt-260804_1785874475703_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29624"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29624\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}