A new type of flu shot
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine. It is the first seasonal flu vaccine made with messenger RNA technology, the same platform used in COVID-19 shots.
Traditional flu vaccines are grown in eggs or cells, a process that takes months. mRNA vaccines can be designed and produced much faster, which means they can be matched more closely to the strains circulating each season.
What the trials showed
In clinical trials, the vaccine produced strong immune responses against multiple flu strains. Side effects were generally mild, including soreness at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. The FDA reviewed data from thousands of participants before clearing the shot.
Officials say the vaccine offers another option for adults, with studies in older adults showing good protection against severe illness. Public health experts note that flu vaccines are never perfect, but even partial protection reduces hospitalizations and deaths each winter.
What happens next
Moderna says it plans to make the vaccine available for the next flu season. Manufacturing and distribution details have not been fully announced. The company is also working on a combined vaccine that protects against both flu and COVID-19 in a single shot.
The approval is a step toward a new generation of vaccines that can be updated quickly. Health officials say that speed will matter as flu viruses continue to change from year to year, and as the world looks for better tools to fight seasonal illness.