Positive lifestyle behaviors go a long way in helping us stay strong, active, and independent as we age. But even if we’re otherwise healthy, our immune systems naturally become less efficient at fighting off infection. That’s why older adults face a higher risk of severe illness from viruses like influenza or “flu” and COVID.

mRNA vaccines offer a safe, highly effective way for older adults to protect themselves against disease. Understanding how these vaccines work, and their distinct advantages over conventional vaccines, can help you make informed decisions about your health.

What are mRNA vaccines?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a breakthrough type of vaccine that instructs cells in the body to produce a harmless piece of a virus—like the spike protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. This small piece of the virus triggers our immune system to recognize it and produce antibodies in response. If we’re later exposed to the actual virus while out shopping or at a social gathering, our immune system is already primed to fight it off and protect us from serious illness.

Unlike traditional vaccines, which typically use a weakened or inactive form of the virus, mRNA vaccines use a small piece of genetic code to achieve the same result. This technology allows for faster development and a more targeted immune response, making it especially valuable in preventing serious illness from viruses like COVID. And with clinical trials already underway, mRNA vaccines will likely also become a tool in protecting us against the flu.

What are the advantages of mRNA-based vaccines?

Why are mRNA vaccines so important for older people? Common infectious diseases can lead to severe illness, hospitalization, or even death in this population. For example:

• Older adults continue to be at highest risk for getting very ill from COVID-19. More than 81% of COVID-related deaths occur in people over 65. In addition, the risk of severe illness from COVID grows along with the number of chronic conditions a person has—such as obesity, diabetes, or sickle cell disease.¹
• The seasonal flu, which typically causes mild illness in younger people, poses a real danger to older people. Adults age 65+ are at much greater risk for developing serious complications from the flu compared with their younger, healthier counterparts.²

Although mRNA and traditional vaccine can't prevent you from catching COVID, they do provide a powerful line of defense that can significantly reduce the risk of negative health outcomes.

Five key advantages of mRNA vaccine technology

1. High efficacy in preventing severe illness. One of the most important benefits of mRNA vaccines is their high success rate in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Early clinical trials for the two COVID mRNA vaccines showed a greater than 90% efficacy rate in preventing infection and high efficacy in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.³ For older Americans who already have an elevated risk, this level of protection can mean the difference between a mild infection and a life-threatening one.
2. Rapid vaccine development. Why are mRNA vaccines faster to develop? Since they don’t require the growth of live virus cultures in a lab—a very time-consuming process—these vaccines can be developed with much greater speed than traditional vaccines. Once the mRNA is designed and synthesized, it can be quickly mass-produced. This was an important advantage at the peak of the COVID pandemic, as the swift development of mRNA vaccines enabled a faster and more efficient national and global vaccination effort. For older adults, this means quicker access to critical protection during viral outbreaks.
3. Adaptability to different strains and pathogens. As viruses like COVID and the flu mutate, new variants can emerge that might make traditional vaccines less effective. One of the key advantages of mRNA vaccines is their adaptability. Because mRNA technology allows for faster vaccine development, scientists can quickly update the vaccine formula to target new variants. This is a valuable advantage for older adults, as it ensures they’re protected against the most current strains of the virus. The adaptability of mRNA vaccines also means they can potentially be used to target entirely different pathogens—even in one vaccine. 
4. Positive safety profile. The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the two available COVID mRNA vaccines at the height of the pandemic to allow them to be deployed quickly. Since then, both COVID mRNA vaccines have received full FDA approval for use in adults and younger age groups. They’ve been thoroughly tested for safety through multiple phases of clinical trials before being approved for public use. These trials included tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages—including older adults and those with underlying health conditions—to ensure the vaccine is both safe and effective in all types of people. Even after approval, these mRNA vaccines continue to be monitored for any rare side effects through ongoing safety surveillance systems. Despite widely available research, misconceptions around mRNA vaccine safety are rampant. That's why it's important to know the facts. Unlike some conventional vaccines, mRNA vaccines do not contain any live virus. The vaccines do not alter our DNA or even enter our cells at all (that's where our DNA is found). Additionally, mRNA vaccines do not linger in our bodies, causing harmful health effects over time. In reality, once the mRNA delivers "instructions" to our cells, it's quickly broken down and flushed out of the body.
5. Fewer side effects for people who are immunocompromised. Older adults can be more sensitive to the side effects of traditional vaccines. mRNA vaccines have been found to have a favorable safety profile, with most side effects being mild and short-lived, such as soreness at the injection site, mild fatigue, fever, chills, and body aches. Although there have been very rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) after receiving mRNA vaccines, no clear link has been established. Male adolescents and young adults were the groups most impacted by this condition, which was more likely to occur after the second vaccine dose. And with proper treatment, symptoms improved quickly in most patients. It’s also important to note that most cases of myocarditis in vaccinated patients happened after they had already had a COVID infection, which can increase the risk of heart problems.^4,5

Serious side effects related to mRNA vaccines are rare, and the protective benefits far outweigh the risks—especially for older people and those with underlying health conditions.

Get your updated vaccines today

The COVID mRNA and flu vaccines have been updated for 2024-2025 to reflect the most common variants circulating right now. But vaccine uptake among older adults is still lower than it should be, particularly for COVID. In one poll, less than half of Americans at highest risk of severe infection (45%) said they plan to get vaccinated.⁶

You can be an inspiration and a role model by rolling up your sleeve to get your shots this fall. Encourage people you know to do the same. And when you see or hear misinformation, don’t be afraid to speak up. Sharing the facts about vaccines can help save lives—and we all have a part to play.

Find COVID and flu vaccination sites near you by visiting Vaccines.gov. Recommended vaccines for older adults are now fully covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flu and People 65 Years and Older. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/65over.htm

3. National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH Vaccine Research Center Leads the Way to Safe, Effective COVID-19 Vaccines. Found on the internet at https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/nih-vaccine-research-center

4. Miriam Echaide, et. al. mRNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: Advantages and Caveats. International Journal of Molecular Science. March 24, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10051235

5. University of Utah Health. mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19. Found on the internet at https://healthcare.utah.edu/coronavirus/vaccine/mrna-vaccine

6. University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. National Poll on Healthy Aging: COVID-19 hits older adults hardest; which ones want the updated vaccine? September 23, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/poll-extras/covid-19-hits-older-adults-hardest-which-ones-want-updated-vaccine