Flu Season Arrives Early, Bringing New mRNA Vaccine Option
While flu cases surged earlier than usual, a new mRNA vaccine approved for adults 50 and older offers an alternative to traditional shots.
Flu season has begun earlier than anticipated this year, with cases rising since late August, prompting health officials to urge vaccination. This season also marks the introduction of a new mRNA-based flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, approved by the FDA for adults aged 50 and older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that current flu activity is higher than typically observed at this point in the year, with some data indicating levels similar to the peak of the season in December or January. Despite the early surge, the majority of the country is still experiencing minimal flu cases, and the CDC states that the overall trends remain within expected seasonal variations. Unlike previous years where the flu season often began in southern states, this year's early activity was first observed in the West, including California, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, leading some experts to suggest a potential evolution of the flu virus.
New mRNA Vaccine
This year's flu vaccine landscape includes the newly approved mFLUSIVA, which utilizes mRNA technology, the same platform used for some COVID-19 vaccines. Instead of introducing a weakened or inactive virus, this vaccine provides instructions to the body's immune cells to combat the flu virus. Early data suggests that mFLUSIVA may offer slightly improved protection compared to traditional flu vaccines, showing a 27% lower rate of flu infection in adults aged 50 to 64. Adverse reactions were reported at rates comparable to those of traditional vaccines.
Health experts recommend that adults aged 50 to 64, particularly those with chronic health conditions that increase their risk of severe flu complications, consider the mRNA vaccine. However, availability may be limited, and experts emphasize that receiving a traditional flu vaccine is preferable to remaining unvaccinated.
The CDC recommends that all individuals aged six months and older receive an annual flu vaccination. This year's traditional flu vaccines are designed to protect against three strains: influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B. H1N1 currently accounts for over 75% of positive flu tests in the last month. The vaccine has also been updated to target a mutation in H3N2 known as "subclade K," which was prevalent last year and associated with a more abrupt onset of symptoms like fever and cough.