Clinical trials have revealed that an experimental combination vaccine for the flu and Covid, developed by Moderna, could be just as effective as receiving two separate shots. This vaccine has undergone Phase 1 and 2 trials in adults aged 50 to 79, who are considered the most vulnerable groups for both diseases. Moderna announced on Wednesday that the vaccine has elicited strong immune responses and is safe. These findings are significant given that less than 20% of Americans have received the updated Covid boosters, and approximately two-thirds of adults do not plan to vaccinate their children with it. Phase 3 testing for the combined vaccine in adults over 50 is expected to commence later this year.
Moderna estimates that there will be 50 to 100 million Covid vaccine doses administered this year. Stéphane Bancel, the CEO of Moderna, expressed enthusiasm about the positive results, stating that the combination vaccine offers an opportunity to alleviate the seasonal burden of flu and Covid, improve compliance with public health recommendations, and deliver value for healthcare systems. The ongoing trial compared the safety of Moderna’s combination vaccine, referred to as mRNA-1083, to that of the standard flu shot in adults aged 50 to 64. In terms of efficacy, mRNA-1083 induced antibody levels similar to or greater than those elicited by the flu shot and the updated Covid vaccine when administered individually. Side effects of the combination vaccine were comparable to the Covid shot and included headaches, injection site soreness, swelling, and fatigue, with no additional safety concerns.
Moderna aims to gain approval for the combination vaccine by 2025. Pfizer has also developed a two-in-one vaccine targeting the Omicron Covid variant and four strains of influenza. However, Pfizer has stated that this vaccine is not intended as a replacement for the standard two-dose jab. Pfizer’s Chief Scientific Officer in Vaccine Research and Development, Annaliesa Anderson, expressed optimism about the potential of the mRNA technology to combat other viruses, highlighting the potential of a combination vaccine to simplify immunization practices and increase vaccine uptake for both influenza and Covid.
The convenience of receiving a flu and Covid vaccine in one shot could lead to higher vaccination rates, as it eliminates the need for multiple visits to healthcare providers. The CDC estimates that during the 2023-2024 flu season, approximately 83.6 million doses of the flu shot have been distributed.
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