The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that influenza viruses cause about 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness and 650,000 deaths annually. Given the increased mortality in adults over 50 years of age, a more effective influenza vaccine would be of value. Currently, older adults are recommended to receive either adjuvanted, high-dose, or recombinant DNA influenza vaccines.
Researchers from Moderna tested an mRNA influenza vaccine (mRNA-1010) based on the hemagglutinins of the three WHO recommended strains for the 2024-2025 Northern Hemisphere season compared with standard-dose influenza vaccine in adults 50 years and older (Leroux-Roels I, Huang G, Ferguson M, et al. Efficacy and safety of an mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine in adults. N Engl J Med. 2026 May 7;394(18):1803-1813). Investigators will likely follow up on this study using a high-dose influenza vaccine comparator in those over 65 years of age.
A total of 40,703 participants received either the mRNA or standard-dose influenza vaccine. They found that the mRNA influenza vaccine was 26.6% more effective than the standard-dose vaccine in those over 50 years of age. The mRNA vaccine, however, was more likely to cause injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, and myalgia compared with the standard-dose vaccine. The authors concluded that “In this trial, mRNA-1010 was superior to standard-dose licensed vaccines for prevention of RT-PCR-confirmed, protocol-defined influenza-like illness in adults 50 years of age or older.”
Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration and could be licensed in time for the 2026-2027 influenza season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that influenza viruses cause about 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness and 650,000 deaths annually. Given the increased mortality in adults over 50 years of age, a more effective influenza vaccine would be of value. Currently, older adults are recommended to receive either adjuvanted, high-dose, or recombinant DNA influenza vaccines.
Researchers from Moderna tested an mRNA influenza vaccine (mRNA-1010) based on the hemagglutinins of the three WHO recommended strains for the 2024-2025 Northern Hemisphere season compared with standard-dose influenza vaccine in adults 50 years and older (Leroux-Roels I, Huang G, Ferguson M, et al. Efficacy and safety of an mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine in adults. N Engl J Med. 2026 May 7;394(18):1803-1813). Investigators will likely follow up on this study using a high-dose influenza vaccine comparator in those over 65 years of age.
A total of 40,703 participants received either the mRNA or standard-dose influenza vaccine. They found that the mRNA influenza vaccine was 26.6% more effective than the standard-dose vaccine in those over 50 years of age. The mRNA vaccine, however, was more likely to cause injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, and myalgia compared with the standard-dose vaccine. The authors concluded that “In this trial, mRNA-1010 was superior to standard-dose licensed vaccines for prevention of RT-PCR-confirmed, protocol-defined influenza-like illness in adults 50 years of age or older.”
Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration and could be licensed in time for the 2026-2027 influenza season.