The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna’s mRNA-based influenza vaccine for older adults, according to multiple reports published Thursday. The decision marks the first time the messenger RNA platform used in Moderna’s Covid-19 shot has been cleared for a seasonal flu vaccine.
The approval was reported by The Guardian, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and IOL. The Guardian noted that the technology behind Moderna’s Covid vaccine has now reached the flu, while Forbes and The Wall Street Journal highlighted that the FDA’s review process was lengthy and arduous before the final green light.
The vaccine is specifically authorized for older adults, a group that faces higher risks of severe illness from influenza. The approval follows years of development and regulatory scrutiny, with the FDA ultimately deciding the shot’s benefits outweigh any concerns, according to The Wall Street Journal.
This is a significant milestone for Moderna, which has sought to expand its mRNA platform beyond Covid-19 into other respiratory diseases. The flu shot is the company’s second approved product, and it could open the door to combination vaccines that target multiple viruses in a single dose, though no such product has been announced in the reporting.
The approval also signals broader acceptance of mRNA technology by regulators, which could accelerate development of vaccines for other infectious diseases. Moderna’s next steps will likely include rolling out the shot ahead of the upcoming flu season and continuing trials for other mRNA-based vaccines.
