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FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
CNN • • health
Key Points:
- The FDA has approved the first mRNA-based flu vaccine in the US for adults aged 50 and older, developed by Moderna, which showed about 27% higher effectiveness than standard flu shots in a study involving over 40,000 participants.
- The vaccine, named mFLUSIVA, may offer a closer match to circulating flu strains due to a shorter time between strain selection and public availability, with Moderna expecting to distribute it this fall.
- Side effects reported include injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, nausea, and fever, consistent with typical flu vaccine reactions.
- The FDA initially hesitated to review the vaccine due to inadequate trials but later agreed, and an independent advisory panel unanimously recommended approval, granting traditional approval for ages 50-64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older pending further trials.
- The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee has not met since a controversial replacement of its members, with its next meeting scheduled for October, potentially delaying formal vaccine recommendations.
