--- title: "Health Canada approves Moderna flu and COVID vaccines for seniors" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors" category: "Health" published: "2026-11-06T00:46:07.169Z" source_reported: "2026-11-06T00:19:02.000Z" updated: "2026-11-06T00:46:07.169Z" trust_score: 48 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-06T03:00:18.791941+00:00" --- # Health Canada approves Moderna flu and COVID vaccines for seniors *New mRNA vaccines for influenza and a combined flu-COVID shot are approved for adults 50 and older.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 48 of 100, higher is better. Trust 48: includes Health Canada attribution and a company news release, but lacks named persons or multiple independent sources. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Critic 60: clear facts separated from comment, specific ages given, notes pending pharmacy rollout, but largely a press release. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: headline matches article content; no sensational language or clickbait. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Health Canada has authorized Moderna's mRNA vaccine for influenza and a combined flu-COVID-19 vaccine. - Both vaccines are approved for adults aged 50 years and older. - Moderna has stated that these approved vaccines will not be available in pharmacies in time for the current respiratory virus season. - The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the non-mRNA flu shot for everyone aged six months and older. Health Canada has authorized two new vaccines from Moderna: an mRNA vaccine for influenza and a combination mRNA vaccine for both influenza and COVID-19. Both vaccines have been approved for use in adults aged 50 years and older. However, Moderna informed The Canadian Press that these vaccines will not be available in pharmacies in time for the current respiratory virus season. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that individuals six months of age and older receive the non-mRNA flu shot that is currently available. ## Disagreement on vaccine availability timeline Moderna told The Canadian Press that the newly approved vaccines will not reach pharmacies in time for the respiratory virus season. This information was reported by City News, CFJC Today Kamloops, Medicine Hat News, and Ckpg Today. None of the other reports included this detail. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the specific names Moderna gave its vaccines: mFLUSIVA for the flu vaccine and mCOFLU for the combination flu and COVID-19 shot. The full report from City News stated these names, but they were not carried in the digests of other outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 26 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 65% (17) - Centre: 35% (9) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 27 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-06T03:00:18.791941+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-06T03:15:08.194Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Ten left-rated reports led with the approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine and its combination flu-COVID-19 vaccine. All ten reports stated that both vaccines are approved for adults aged 50 and older. Seven of these reports also included the detail that Moderna indicated the vaccines would not be available in pharmacies in time for the respiratory virus season. Six of the left-rated reports mentioned the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendation for the non-mRNA flu shot for individuals six months and older. ### Centre - Five centre-rated reports led with the approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine and its combination flu-COVID-19 vaccine. All five reports stated that both vaccines are approved for adults aged 50 and older. Three of these reports also included the detail that Moderna indicated the vaccines would not be available in pharmacies in time for the respiratory virus season. Three of the centre-rated reports mentioned the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendation for the non-mRNA flu shot for individuals six months and older. City News, the only outlet with a full report, also included information about a higher-dose flu vaccine recommended for adults 65 and older and the committee's advice on COVID-19 vaccination for older adults and residents of care facilities. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 15 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/health/article/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-vaccine) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Newmarket Today](https://newmarkettoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Guelph Today](https://guelphtoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna’s mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [CambridgeToday.ca](https://cambridgetoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [burlingtontoday.com](https://burlingtontoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [The Lethbridge Herald](https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Coast Reporter](https://coastreporter.net/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986749) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Midland Today](https://midlandtoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines-12986740) — Health Canada approves Moderna's mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna’s mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna’s mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/11/05/health-canada-approves-modernas-mrna-flu-and-flu-covid-combo-vaccines) — Health Canada approves Moderna’s mRNA flu and flu-COVID combo vaccines ## Questions **What new vaccines has Health Canada approved?** Health Canada has approved Moderna's mRNA vaccine for influenza and a combination mRNA vaccine for both influenza and COVID-19. These approvals are for adults aged 50 and older. **When will the new Moderna vaccines be available?** Moderna has stated that the newly approved mRNA flu and flu-COVID combination vaccines will not reach pharmacies in time for the current respiratory virus season. **What flu vaccine is recommended this year?** The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that everyone six months of age and older receive the non-mRNA flu shot that is available this year. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Health Canada approves Moderna flu and COVID vaccines for seniors", https://mediabias.news/health/health-canada-approves-moderna-flu-and-covid-vaccines-for-seniors