Vaccines have been reliably and affordably protecting people from diseases worldwide for centuries. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, however, vaccine development was still a long and idiosyncratic process. Traditionally, researchers had to tailor manufacturing processes and facilities for each vaccine candidate, and the scientific knowledge gained from one vaccine was often not directly transferable to another.
But the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines brought a new approach to vaccine development. And on Aug. 5, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved another mRNA vaccine – a seasonal flu vaccine for adults age 50 or older – that offers more protection against influenza compared to standard vaccines. These advances demonstrate the momentum of mRNA technology, and they have far-reaching implications for how researchers make drugs to treat many other diseases.
