Health Canada Approves Moderna's New Flu and Combined Flu-COVID Vaccines
Published
Health Canada has approved a new vaccine from Moderna that protects against influenza, commonly known as the flu. The approval also covers a combination vaccine that protects against both the flu and COVID-19 in a single product. Both vaccines use mRNA technology, the same basic method that Moderna used for its COVID-19 vaccine.
The mRNA vaccines work by giving the body instructions to make a harmless piece of a virus. This helps the immune system learn to recognize and fight the real virus if a person is infected later. Health Canada is the federal agency that reviews and approves medicines and vaccines before they can be sold and used in Canada.
A combination vaccine could be useful for people who want protection against two viruses at once. Instead of getting two separate shots, a person may be able to receive one injection. This could make vaccination easier during the fall and winter, when flu and COVID-19 cases often increase.
The approval means the vaccines can now be made available in Canada, although details about when they will be offered and who will be eligible were not included in the initial report. Readers who want more information should check with their healthcare provider or with provincial and territorial health authorities.
Sources: CTV News
More Canada news
- CGI Earnings Rise 9% as Investors Compare Canadian Tech Stocks
- Canada's Economy Grew in Second Quarter, But Fraser Institute Says Headlines Are Misleading
- AI and Virtual Reality Help Bring Memories Back for People with Dementia
- Canada Names First CEO for New Canada Strong Fund
- Ottawa Restores Sanctions on Iran That Were Lifted a Decade Ago
- Canada Plans Funding to Prepare for Major Earthquakes in Next Federal Budget
- Carney Issues Warning to China, According to The Globe and Mail
- Fewer Than 4,400 Second World War and Korean War Veterans Remain Alive in Canada