TORONTO, Canada — Health Canada has authorized two new vaccines developed by Moderna, including an mRNA-based influenza vaccine and a combination vaccine designed to protect against both seasonal flu and COVID-19.
The approvals, announced on November 5, 2026, cover adults aged 50 and older. The decision makes Canada the first country to authorize both products, marking a significant development in the use of messenger RNA technology for seasonal respiratory disease prevention.
The newly approved vaccines are called mFLUSIVA, Moderna’s standalone influenza vaccine, and mCOFLU, which combines protection against influenza and COVID-19 in a single injection.
Two New Vaccines Expand Immunization Options
The approval introduces Canada’s first mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine and its first combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccine.
Unlike traditional flu vaccines, which commonly rely on virus components produced through established manufacturing methods, mRNA vaccines use genetic instructions to help the body produce proteins that trigger an immune response.
Moderna said the authorization of mFLUSIVA was supported by a Phase 3 clinical trial involving approximately 40,800 adults aged 50 and older across 11 countries.
The study found that the vaccine demonstrated 26.6 per cent relative vaccine efficacy compared with a standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness caused by influenza A or B.
Meanwhile, clinical studies of mCOFLU demonstrated that the combination vaccine produced immune responses that met the trial’s non-inferiority requirements when compared with separately administered influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccines Will Not Be Available This Flu Season
Despite the regulatory approval, Canadians should not expect the new products to be available in pharmacies during the current 2026–27 respiratory virus season.
A Moderna spokesperson confirmed to The Canadian Press that neither vaccine would reach pharmacies in time for this season. Existing influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will therefore remain the available options for Canadians seeking protection.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization continues to recommend annual influenza vaccination for everyone aged six months and older.
It also recommends higher-dose influenza vaccines for adults aged 65 and older, while strongly advising COVID-19 vaccination for older adults and residents of long-term care and other congregate living facilities.
Canada Becomes First to Approve Both Products
Moderna said its standalone mRNA flu vaccine received approval in the United States in August 2026, while its combination flu-COVID vaccine was authorized in Europe in April.
The Canadian approvals represent another milestone for the company’s vaccine development program.
Although the products will not be available immediately, their authorization expands Canada’s future immunization options and highlights the growing role of mRNA technology in preventing seasonal respiratory infections.
Swifteradio.com
