New Mrna Flu Vaccine Shows Promise, but Uptake Concerns Linger.
WHO:
Newsday - Dr. Martín Bäcker stated, "We anticipated it would work. But you don’t know how well it can work compared with traditional vaccines until you do the studies."
Newsday - Dr. Sharon Nachman said, "The ability to make a flu vaccine in real time that matches the circulating flu strains is going to be a game changer."
Newsday - Moderna, FDA, Dr. Martín Bäcker (principal investigator at NYU Langone-Long Island Vaccine Center), Dr. Sharon Nachman (chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Medicine), Dr. Bruce Farber (chief of public health and epidemiology at Northwell Health), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard.
WHAT:
Newsday - The FDA's approval for mFlusiva for those 65 and older is provisional, pending further studies.
Newsday - A major study found that mFlusiva has the potential to save many lives because it can more closely match the most commonly circulating flu strains each season.
Newsday - The FDA approved Moderna’s mFlusiva flu vaccine for people ages 50 and older.
Newsday - A study of over 40,000 people ages 50 to 64 showed mFlusiva is 26.6% more effective than a traditional flu vaccine in preventing symptoms.
Newsday - mFlusiva is only the second FDA-approved mRNA vaccine, after the COVID-19 vaccine.
Newsday - Flu vaccination rates in New York have slipped to about 48% for the 2024-25 flu season.
Newsday - The FDA's approval for those 65 and older is provisional, pending further studies.
WHERE:
Newsday - Long Island pharmacies will have the mFlusiva vaccine available.
WHEN:
Newsday - The mFlusiva vaccine is expected to be available in pharmacies in the coming weeks.
WHY:
Newsday - HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that mRNA vaccines "aren’t effective against diseases like the flu and COVID," which is "completely contrary to the evidence," according to Jeff Coller.
Newsday - Medical experts express concern that the mRNA technology may scare some people away from using the vaccine.
Newsday - Misinformation about mRNA vaccines, including false claims that they can alter DNA, persists among the public.
HOW:
Newsday - Moderna announced it is beginning the first human trial of an mRNA vaccine against a particularly deadly strain of the Ebola virus.
Newsday - mRNA vaccines use the genetic sequence of a virus to prepare the body to fight an infection.
Newsday - Traditional flu vaccines are developed by growing vaccine viruses in chicken eggs, a time-consuming process.
Newsday - Scientists select influenza strains each spring based on which strains are causing illness in the southern hemisphere's flu season.
(UPDATED August 8, 2026 14:30 UTC)
In a significant development, the FDA has granted provisional approval for mFlusiva, a new flu vaccine aimed at those 65 and older, pending further studies. Dr. Martín Bäcker expressed optimism about its effectiveness, while Dr. Sharon Nachman highlighted its potential to revolutionize flu vaccination by matching circulating strains in real time. Meanwhile, Moderna has announced the start of the first human trial for an mRNA vaccine targeting a particularly deadly strain of the Ebola virus.
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(UPDATED August 8, 2026 13:50 UTC)
The FDA has approved Moderna's mFlusiva flu vaccine for individuals aged 50 and older, marking it as only the second FDA-approved mRNA vaccine after the COVID-19 vaccine. A study involving over 40,000 participants aged 50 to 64 revealed that mFlusiva is 26.6% more effective than traditional flu vaccines in preventing symptoms, and it is expected to be available in Long Island pharmacies in the coming weeks. However, there are concerns among medical experts that misinformation about mRNA technology may deter some people from getting vaccinated, despite the fact that mRNA vaccines prepare the body to fight infections more efficiently than traditional methods.