The FDA approved mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine in the United States, for adults ages 50 and older. The vaccine received traditional approval for adults ages 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for adults 65 and older. A phase 3 trial involving more than 40,000 adults found that the mRNA vaccine was more effective at preventing influenza-like illness than a licensed standard-dose flu vaccine.
Online discussion about the approval combined longstanding concerns about flu vaccines with distrust of mRNA technology following the COVID-19 pandemic. Commenters questioned whether traditional flu vaccines will remain available, why the new vaccine is limited to older adults, and how its safety and side effects compare with existing vaccines. Others expressed concerns about vaccine shedding, cumulative exposure to mRNA vaccines, and claims that mRNA vaccines cause cancer, blood clots, or genetic changes. Some commenters said the introduction of an mRNA option made them less willing to receive any flu vaccine. Questions about egg allergies were also common, including whether the mRNA vaccine provides an alternative for people with egg allergies.
Recommendation
Questions about the first mRNA flu vaccine highlight how concerns about COVID-19 vaccines may influence perceptions of seasonal flu vaccination. Health communicators may clarify that the new mRNA vaccine is an additional option for adults ages 50 and older and does not replace existing flu vaccines. Messaging may explain why the vaccine is currently approved for this age group and address questions about its benefits and potential side effects compared with existing options.
Communicators may also address confusion about different vaccine types, particularly amid concerns about vaccine shedding. Messaging may explain that mRNA vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot shed or transmit vaccine components to others. Communicators may also reinforce that people with egg allergies can receive any flu vaccine appropriate for their age and health status, including egg-based vaccines.
Fact-checking sources: NPR
Communication resources: Find shareable social media graphics on mRNA vaccines
