The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind flu vaccine made with messenger RNA technology, enabling its developer, Moderna, to complete a dramatic regulatory turnaround. Like the rest of Moderna’s pipeline, mFlusiva is built on mRNA technology capable of being weaponized against emerging pathogens more quickly than traditional vaccines. Moderna first sought clearance of a combination COVID and flu shot, but abandoned that plan after U.S. regulators requested additional data from its influenza component. And Prasad and Makary, who had enacted stricter vaccine approval guidelines, have both since left the FDA. Moderna expects mFlusiva to be available in the U.S. for the upcoming 2026-2027 flu season.