It may still be summer, but both the flu and COVID seasons are just around the corner, with some early signs of infection pick-up already. But you don’t have to go into the season unprepared, as new vaccines have been approved for both illnesses to match the strains predicted to be most dominant in the 2026-2027 season.

For the flu: FDA has approved an mRNA influenza vaccine for adults 50 years of age and older. The new MFlusiva vaccine from Moderna marks the first use of mRNA technology in a flu vaccine, for which the Phase 3 trial showed it providing significantly better protection than standard-dose flu shots for these adults. The trivalent mRNA-1010 vaccine did not take a direct road to approval, however; rather the FDA initially declined to review the application, then later reversed course, agreed to review, and now has approved it.

In the trial, more than 20,000 participants in 11 countries were randomly assigned the mRNA-1010 or a standard-dose vaccine. The trial found the relative vaccine efficacy to be generally consistent across 3 flu strains, appeared to perform consistently among higher-risk groups, and led to fewer flu-related healthcare visits than did the standard vaccine.

For COVID: FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines (2026-2027 Formula) include the JN.1-lineage XFG as the preferred SARS CoV-2 virus variant for an updated monovalent vaccine. The decision was based on the available data on the circulation of virus variants, current vaccine effectiveness, human immunogenicity data of current vaccines against recently circulating virus variants, the antigenic characterization of circulating virus variants, animal immunogenicity data on new candidate vaccines expressing or containing updated spike components, and human immunogenicity data on the vaccines (2025-2026 Formula).

As we have learned, it’s not a question of if epidemics, pandemics or other health crises may appear – but when they will do so. Vaccines are the best way to prevent infection and reduce spread of both the flu and COVID-19, but there also are steps you can take at your site to help ensure you are prepared for infectious diseases – and TAG can help. Give us a call!

COVID Risk Matrix

Influenza

Public Health News

• President Trump has signed an executive order that separates out the MMR vaccine, urges all childhood vaccines be administered at separate visits, and reduces the routine immunization framework for children. At this time the proposed three separate vaccination regimen described by Trump for MMR is not currently licensed in the US nor approved by the FDA, which would take time.
• In Louisiana residents are being warned to stay out of the water if they have any type of wound because of an outbreak of flesh-eating bacterium. Five people have been reported deceased after Vibrio vulnificus infected them this year. Additionally, four individuals have been hospitalized. During the same period over the previous 10 years, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death.
• The FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for CLiK Extra wound spray for application on or around wounds for the prevention of New World Screwworm in sheep, cattle, goats, swine, camelids, and several captive and captured wildlife species.
• Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Aug. 7 declared a public health emergency for Washington state to address the impacts of ongoing wildfires. This follows an emergency declaration approved by President Trump Aug. 4.