On 5 August, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, for adults aged 50'64, and accelerated approval for adults aged 65 and older. Moderna say it will be available 'in a few weeks' to be rolled out for the 2026'27 flu season in the United States. Researchers welcomed the decision, noting that the vaccine's mRNA platform allows it to be rapidly reformulated to match circulating influenza strains. 'This approval is very important and can be a great game changer' because the platform could help solve the problem of slow manufacturing, says Emanuele Montomoli, a researcher in hygiene and public health at the University of Siena, Italy. The vaccine is also being reviewed by regulatory agencies in the European Union, Canada and Australia. A related product has already been permitted for use in Europe: in April, the European Commission approved Moderna's combined seasonal influenza and COVID-19 mRNA vaccine mCombriax. Tests...
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