FDA Clears First mRNA Flu Vaccine, Moderna Targets Quick RolloutIndia-West News DeskWASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the country’s first mRNA-based influenza vaccine, developed by Moderna. Moderna said it expects the vaccine to be available in the U.S. for the 2026–2027 flu season. In late-stage trials, the shot was about 27 percent more effective than a standard-dose flu vaccine in adults aged 50 and above. Flu vaccines are already available but take longer to produce and are less adaptable to changes in circulating strains. The approval comes amid criticism of mRNA vaccines from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His department last year canceled nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA research.