With the arrival of winter, the risk of flu and seasonal fever increases rapidly. Flu can often become quite severe, especially for those over 50. But now, significant and reassuring news has emerged from the world of medical science. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna’s new flu vaccine, “mFLUSIVA.” This is the world’s first flu vaccine based on mRNA technology, just like Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This new vaccine has been specifically designed to protect people aged 50 and older from seasonal flu. With this approval, it is hoped that doctors and the public have gained a powerful weapon in the fight against flu.
Moderna’s new vaccine, scientifically known as mRNA-1010, will be known as mFLUSIVA in the market. The FDA approved it based on the results of a large Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in 11 countries. More than 40,000 people aged 50 and older participated in this trial.
During the trial, half of the participants received this new mRNA vaccine, while the other half received a standard-dose flu vaccine already on the market. When both groups were tested using RT-PCR lab tests, researchers found that Moderna’s new vaccine was significantly more effective in preventing flu symptoms and illness than the previous vaccine.
In addition, this vaccine has received accelerated approval for use in people aged 65 and older. A study of more than 2,900 older adults in the United States showed that their immune systems responded significantly better to this vaccine than to a high-dose flu shot. Moderna says this vaccine will be available to the general public in the US by the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season.
Recent data from the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that approximately 45,000 people died from flu in the 2024-2025 flu season. However, approximately 12,000 lives were saved through vaccination.
Experts believe that since mFLUSIVA is more effective than older vaccines in reducing the risk of flu, it could significantly reduce the number of flu-related deaths in the future.
In an exclusive interview with the media, Dr. Sandeep Nair, Principal Director & HOD-Pulmonology at BLK-Max Hospital, Delhi, stated that the risk of serious complications from flu increases significantly after the age of 50. In this context, this new vaccine is a significant addition to our medical tools. It also proves that mRNA technology isn’t limited to COVID-19, but can be effectively used for other diseases as well.
The flu virus mutates rapidly. Most conventional flu vaccines are made using egg-based methods. These require at least six months to develop. Sometimes, by the time a vaccine is produced, the virus strain has changed, making it less effective.
mRNA vaccines can be developed in a very short time and very quickly. Even if the virus mutates, scientists can quickly update the vaccine’s formula in the lab.
This largely eliminates the problem of vaccine-virus interactions.
Dr. Sandeep Nair says this is a huge technological advantage. If we can rapidly develop vaccines to adapt to changing strains, it will completely transform the way we deal with any new pandemic in the future.
According to trial results, mFLUSIVA demonstrated approximately 27 percent greater efficacy in preventing flu than the standard-dose flu vaccine in adults aged 50 to 64. Most importantly, no new or serious safety concerns were identified during the entire clinical program.
Like any other vaccine, this mRNA flu vaccine has experienced some common side effects, which are usually mild and resolve on their own within a few days. According to Moderna, the following common symptoms were reported in the trial:
Headache; feeling tired; joint and muscle pain;
Mild fever or chills;
Nausea or vomiting.
Mild redness or pain at the injection site.
In very rare cases, a person may experience a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
If you are considering getting this vaccine, speak openly with your doctor first. A doctor’s advice is especially important in the following situations:
If you have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine in the past.
If you have a weakened immune system or are taking medications that suppress the immune system.
If you have ever experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after a flu shot.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this vaccine, do not get it at all.
Doctors clearly state that mFLUSIVA should not be seen as a complete replacement for all previous vaccines. This is a matter of caution between patients and doctors.It has come as a new and better option for us.