A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is considering a first-of-its-kind influenza vaccine that uses messenger RNA technology, the same platform that proved successful in COVID-19 vaccines.
Potential Game-Changer for Flu Prevention
The vaccine, developed by Moderna, could become the first mRNA-based flu shot approved in the United States. If authorized, it would offer a new tool against seasonal influenza, which causes thousands of deaths annually.
Clinical trial data presented to the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee suggest the mRNA vaccine is safe and effective, though questions remain about its long-term durability and ability to match circulating strains.
How It Differs from Traditional Flu Shots
Traditional flu vaccines are typically grown in chicken eggs or cell cultures, a process that takes months. mRNA vaccines can be produced more quickly, potentially allowing better strain matching each season.
Moderna's candidate targets four influenza strains, similar to current quadrivalent vaccines. Early studies indicate it may offer stronger protection, especially in older adults who often respond poorly to conventional shots.
Regulatory Path and Next Steps
The panel is expected to vote on whether to recommend approval. The FDA usually follows advisory committee recommendations but is not bound by them. A decision could come within weeks.
If approved, the vaccine would be available for the 2026-2027 flu season. Moderna has already begun manufacturing doses in anticipation of a positive outcome.
Broader Implications for mRNA Technology
An mRNA flu vaccine would mark another milestone for the technology, which has already been used for COVID-19 and is being tested for other respiratory viruses like RSV. Success could pave the way for combined respiratory vaccines.
Public health officials hope that a more effective flu vaccine could reduce the burden of influenza, which causes up to 650,000 deaths globally each year.
