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Jun 18, 20261
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FDA advisors unanimously back Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after Trump appointee blocked review
The FDA's vaccine advisory committee voted 9–0 to recommend approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine mFlusiva, which showed 27 percent greater effectiveness than standard flu shots and stronger immune responses in older adults. The decision came after a Trump appointee had initially blocked the vaccine from being reviewed.
Quick Facts
Who
FDA
What
FDA advisory committee voted to recommend approval of mRNA flu vaccine
When
Friday (June 2026, based on publish date of June 18, 2026)
Where
FDA
- FDA advisory committee voted to recommend approval of mRNA flu vaccine
- Trump appointee initially tried to block vaccine review
- Phase 3 clinical trials conducted
- FDA scientists provided supportive assessment
- FDA
The FDA's independent vaccine advisory committee voted unanimously on Friday to recommend approval of Moderna's seasonal mRNA flu vaccine, mFlusiva (mRNA-1010), overcoming an earlier attempt by a Trump-appointed agency official to prevent the vaccine from being reviewed.
In a full-day meeting, members of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) evaluated clinical trial data and scientific presentations. The committee voted 9–0 in favor, with FDA scientists also providing supportive assessments of the vaccine candidate.
Clinical trial data demonstrated the vaccine's effectiveness and safety profile. A Phase 3 trial involving over 40,000 adults aged 50 and older showed the mRNA vaccine was approximately 27 percent more effective against seasonal flu compared to a standard flu shot. A smaller Phase 3 trial with nearly 3,000 participants aged 65 and older indicated the vaccine produced stronger immune responses than the high-dose flu vaccine currently recommended for seniors. Overall, the vaccine demonstrated a generally favorable safety profile.
VRBPAC member Flor Munoz-Rivas, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Baylor College of Medicine, praised the quality of the research. "The studies that were presented today were very well conducted," she said. "They have very clear results that are very robust in terms of demonstrating that additional efficacy." Munoz-Rivas highlighted the advantages of Moderna's mRNA platform, which enabled rapid vaccine development and could facilitate quick responses to emerging seasonal strains or pandemic variants in the future. The platform builds on the same technology Moderna used to develop its COVID-19 vaccines.
Why This Matters
This unanimous recommendation signals strong scientific support for a potentially more effective flu vaccine option, particularly for older adults who are most vulnerable to severe flu complications. The decision reaffirms the FDA's advisory system's independence and scientific integrity, despite political interference, and demonstrates how mRNA platform technology—already proven in COVID-19 vaccines—can be rapidly adapted to address seasonal respiratory threats and emerging variants. For patients and healthcare providers, this represents a pathway to improved protection with a vaccine that could be updated quickly if new strains emerge.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireVRBPAC voted 9–0 in favor of recommending approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine