Health Canada has approved Moderna’s combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine as well as its seasonal flu mRNA shot.
Canada’s top health agency says mFLUSIVA, an mRNA flu vaccine, as well as mCOFLU, a combination flu and COVID-19 vaccine, can now both be used in adults 50 and older.
In August, the mRNA flu vaccine was approved for use in the United States and in April, the combination vaccine was approved for use in Europe, but Canada is the first country to approve both, Moderna said in a statement.
“Health Canada’s authorizations for mFLUSIVA and mCOFLU today mark another important step in bringing the benefits of mRNA technology to seasonal respiratory vaccination. It’s not every day that a company obtains two product approvals on the same day,” said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a statement.
It’s unclear when vaccines will be available to Canadians over 50, but Moderna said it “will collaborate with Canadian health authorities and vaccination partners as it advances plans for the future availability of mFLUSIVA and mCOFLU in Canada.”
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The new flu vaccine and the combination vaccine will not be part of the 2026-2027 vaccination season, a Moderna spokesperson told Global News.
According to experts, mRNA vaccines could be more effective than traditional vaccines.
Traditional flu vaccines use microbial proteins or dead microbes to boost protection against an illness. In contrast, mRNA vaccines give your cells a recipe they can use to produce the proteins needed to fight disease. They are generally considered fast-acting.
“After the injection, the cells in the muscles in your arm pick up the mRNA, make the protein, and display it on the cell surface,” the Vanderbilt University Medical Center website says.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive the non-mRNA flu vaccine that is available this year.
A higher-dose version of the flu vaccine is recommended for adults ages 65 and older because aging immune systems often need a bigger boost.
The committee also strongly advises COVID-19 vaccination for anyone aged 65 and older and residents of long-term care, retirement homes or assisted living facilities.
–with files from The Canadian Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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