A federal advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted Thursday to recommend approval of Moderna's mRNA influenza vaccine for adults 60 and older, a milestone that would make it the first flu shot developed using the messenger RNA technology that underpinned several leading COVID-19 vaccines.

The advisory panel's backing is a key step in the regulatory process, though final authorization rests with the FDA itself. Agency officials are not required to follow advisory committee recommendations but typically give them significant weight in their decisions.

Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine works by instructing cells to produce proteins that mimic the influenza virus, prompting an immune response — the same basic mechanism used in the company's COVID-19 vaccine. Proponents argue the approach could allow faster manufacturing updates each flu season compared with traditional egg-based vaccine production methods.

The committee's review comes during a period of heightened attention to influenza, with flu activity continuing to draw public health focus. Clinical trial data submitted to the FDA indicated the vaccine met effectiveness benchmarks established for the review, according to reporting by PBS NewsHour and The Hill.

If the FDA grants full approval, Moderna's mRNA flu shot would join an already crowded market of seasonal influenza vaccines, including several high-dose formulations already recommended specifically for older adults, who face the greatest risk of severe flu complications. The decision on whether to recommend the vaccine for broader age groups would require separate regulatory review.