A new flu vaccine geared to older people is coming soon

A new kind of flu vaccine made with mRNA technology will soon be available. Marco Bello/Bloomberg/Getty Images hide caption

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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.

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."

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.