mFlusiva, the first mRNA flu shot, is now available. Here’s what to know – NBC News, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/mrna-flu-vaccine-moderna-mflusiva-explained-rcna598524)

mFlusiva, developed by Moderna, is the first mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Key Details About the Vaccine

• Who it is for: It is approved for adults aged 50 and older. For adults aged 50 to 64, it received full FDA approval, while adults aged 65 and older received accelerated approval based on strong immune response data. Adults under 50 will continue to receive traditional flu vaccines.

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• How it works: Traditional flu shots typically rely on weakened or inactivated flu viruses grown in chicken eggs or mammalian cells. In contrast, mFlusiva uses messenger RNA (mRNA)the same underlying platform used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. It provides temporary genetic instructions that prompt cells to produce harmless hemagglutinin surface proteins from three seasonal flu strains (two Influenza A strains and one Influenza B strain), training the immune system to recognize and fight the real virus. The mRNA is quickly broken down by the body afterward.

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• Effectiveness: In large clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants, mFlusiva demonstrated approximately 26.6% greater relative efficacy at preventing lab-confirmed influenza compared to standard-dose traditional flu shots.

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• Key advantages:

  • Egg-free: Because it is synthetic and does not rely on eggs, it is suitable for individuals with egg allergies.

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  • Speed and agility: mRNA manufacturing is significantly faster than traditional egg-based production, allowing health authorities and manufacturers to update vaccine strains closer to flu season if circulating virus strains mutate.

• Side effects: Common side effects are similar to other mRNA shots and standard flu vaccines, usually resolving within 1 to 2 days. These include injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle soreness, and low-grade fever or chills.

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