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FDA Advisory Panel Backs Moderna mRNA Flu Vaccine for Older Adults but Final Approval Remains Pending
VRBPAC voted unanimously on June 18 that benefits outweigh risks for adults ages 50-64 and 65+. The final FDA decision on licensure remains pending.
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An FDA advisory panel voted unanimously on June 18 to endorse Moderna’s seasonal mRNA flu vaccine for adults ages 50–64 and adults 65 and older. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, known as VRBPAC, concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for both age groups.
FDA staff presentations at the meeting indicated the agency views the vaccine as having cleared sufficient hurdles for traditional licensure for adults 50–64 and accelerated licensure for adults 65 and older.
Earlier in 2026, a top FDA official briefly refused to consider accepting the Moderna mRNA flu vaccine for review. Wellington Sun, a former FDA employee who previously worked at Moderna but is no longer with the company, spoke during the meeting’s public comment period. Sun stated that multiple flu vaccines currently on the market were first licensed using an accelerated pathway.
The final FDA decision on licensure of the Moderna mRNA flu vaccine has not yet been made. The article was published on June 18, 2026, by Helen Branswell, Infectious Diseases Correspondent for STAT.
