A new flu vaccine geared to older people is coming soon

Health A new flu vaccine geared to older people is coming soon August 6, 20261:06 PM ET Rob Stein A new kind of flu vaccine made with mRNA technology will soon be available. Marco Bello/Bloomberg/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Marco Bello/Bloomberg/Getty Images For the latest stories on the science of healthy living, subscribe to NPR's Health newsletter.  The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine against seasonal influenza for people 50 and older, the company said late Wednesday. It's the first approved vaccine for flu that uses the same technology as COVID-19 shots. Health FDA weighs a new kind of flu shot based on technology RFK Jr. has questioned The vaccine is called mFLUSIVA, and Moderna says it will be available "in a few weeks" — in time for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season in the U.S. "The FDA approval of mFLUSIVA … demonstrates the continued strength and versatility of our mRNA platform," said Stéphane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive officer, in a statement. "Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFLUSIVA provides an important new option for America's seniors. This approval also reflects the ongoing potential of our mRNA platform to help address important public health challenges through continued scientific innovation." Sponsor Message Company research involving more than 40,000 people found that mFLUSIVA is safe and appears to produce stronger protection than traditional flu vaccines. The FDA's decision was being closely monitored because of the Trump administration's hostility toward mRNA technology. President Trump embraced mRNA technology during his first term to produce the COVID vaccines, an achievement widely praised as a medical triumph that saved millions of lives. But the backlash against pandemic responses, including vaccine mandates, led to the vaccines and mRNA technology being vilified by some and becoming the focus of widespread misinformation. Secretary of Health and Human Serv...