The FDA has approved the nation's first flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the manufacturer, Moderna, announced on Thursday.The vaccine, which is based on the same messenger RNA platform used in COVID-19 shots, has been fully approved for adults ages 50-64 ahead of the 2026-2027 flu season.For adults 65 and older, the vaccine received accelerated approval, which allows the vaccine to be used while Moderna completes an additional study to confirm its effectiveness in seniors.PANCREATIC CANCER VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE IN FIRST HUMAN TRIAL, PREVENTING DISEASE IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTSExperts say mRNA vaccines can be updated more quickly to protect against changes in circulating flu strains.The approval was based on a phase 3 clinical trial including around 40,000 participants, in which the new vaccine was found to effect a 27% reduction in flu cases compared to a standard flu vaccine.The FDA has approved the nation's first flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the manufacturer, Moderna, announced on Thursday.(iStock)No major safety concerns were identified in the trial, according to the announcement.It was found to have more short-term side effects than conventional flu shots – including arm pain, fatigue, headache and fever – although these were noted to be generally mild and temporary.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"This is not a universal vaccine, but is geared for rapid turnaround once the yearly strains have been identified," said Dr.
Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst."It’s similar to the COVID vaccine and was found to be 25% to 30% more effective than the current flu vaccine," he added."It’s geared to protect the elderly."Doctors reveal what you should do before getting your flu shot this season to maximize effectiveness (iStock)Older adults face the biggest risk of severe influenza.
During the 2024-2025 season, people 65 and older accounted for 57% of flu-related hospitalizations and 71% of deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Con...