As we start to enter into fall and winter, it’s time to start preparing for flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting vaccinated against the influenza virus to protect you from getting sick. They recommend vaccination for everyone over the age of 6 months old.
Flu vaccines have been available for decades. There are 7 different types of flu vaccine, including:
- standard-dose vaccines, such as Fluarix and Fluzone
- egg-based vaccines, such as Fluad and Fluzone high-dose
- cell-based vaccines, such as Flucelvax
There’s also a new mRNA-based flu vaccine, approved in August 2026. This vaccine works slightly differently to the others, and it should be available by the end of 2026.
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How is the new flu vaccine different?
The new vaccine, called mFLUVISA, is an mRNA vaccine. This means it uses a small piece of genetic material to give your cells instructions for building flu virus proteins. Your body then learns to recognize and fight the real virus.
Traditional flu vaccines use weakened or inactivated flu viruses, which also train your immune system but in a slightly different way.
The mRNA vaccine is promising because the flu virus comes in different kinds, called strains. These strains are constantly evolving, so if the strain of the virus changes unexpectedly throughout the year, the vaccine can be quickly updated.
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Get free cardWho can take the new flu vaccine?
The new flu vaccine is approved for use in people over the age of 50. Some research suggests it may be more effective than traditional vaccines in these populations
Next steps
If you are interested in the new flu vaccine, speak with your doctor or a pharmacist about its availability in advance of flu season.
Consider reading this article next on the costs of flu vaccines without insurance.
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