There's a new flu vaccine option for people older than 50

MEDICAL DATA

A new mFlusiva flu vaccine for people 50 years and older uses mRNA, or synthetic genetic technology is seen as a more effective upgrade on traditional flu vaccine.

A new influenza vaccine for people over 50 has been approved.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved mFlusiva, the first flu vaccine to use mRNA technology. mRNA otherwise known as messenger RNA technology uses synthetic genetic instructions to teach cells how to build harmless protein or protein fragments to trigger an immune response. 

Clinical trials found that mFlusiva was 26.6% more effective than traditional shots and the technology used can make it easier to respond to the changing in flu strains. 

“mRNA technology I think got very highly publicized during COVID,” said Dr. Benjamin Missisk of Novant Health Blakeney Family Physicians, “and it does provide the body an opportunity to mount a more robust response to the virus itself when it's exposed to it afterwards. So, after 50, you’re looking at a more noticeable improvement.”

Missick explained what mRNA is and how it works.

“It comes down to how the body is tricked into thinking it’s been exposed to something major when it’s really being exposed to something harmless,” he said. “You’re taking the protein from the virus, and you’re exposing the body to it. And what the body does from there is train its own immune system to be ready for the next exposure, which realistically, the next exposure would be the real thing. You’re kind of having a practice, a practice run-through.”

Like with most seasonal vaccinations, there are possible side effects. 

“The side effects are similar to the COVID vaccine in some people,” Missick said. “You’re going to have chills. You're going to have muscle aches. You’re going to feel tired. It’s not in everybody, but you’re going to see more people get a response like that with the mRNA vaccine versus the traditional. And like I said, that doesn't mean that you are sick. It doesn't mean that you are having a bad reaction to it. But in the same breath, you want to make sure that people don’t ignore bad reactions if they’re having trouble with breathing, trouble with you know a major rash arises.”

If mFlusiva isn’t available at your pharmacy or doctor’s office, it’s OK to receive the regular flu vaccine. With the weather changing and colder months on the horizon, viruses will begin becoming more prominent, it’s wise to get protected earlier.

“I’d recommend people to get the vaccine now,” Missick said. “The vaccine that they have access to, get that vaccine now, and don’t put it on the table to wait for the opportune time to get one or the other. If you have access to the traditional vaccine, I’d rather you have some coverage versus no coverage at all or missing the boat.”

Missick added that mFlusiva and traditional flu vaccine are typically mutually exclusive. For people under 50 years of age, the regular vaccine is the only current option. Another point: have a conversation with your primary care physician and specialists for a second opinion if you’re skeptical. 

“Don’t leave this as a mutually exclusive decision between you and your PCP,” Missick said. “If you have other doctors, and sometimes when you hear the unity and what people are saying, that also helps build trust. … Make sure that you’re if you're getting your vaccine, and you see the importance that you’re speaking to the people that you have in your inner and your outer circle, just making sure that they’re thinking about this ahead of the flu hitting the community.”

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