developing a combination flu/COVID vaccine.
Moderna told investors last week it hopes eventually to build an annual combo vaccine that protects against a variety of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Meanwhile, Novavax said it has initiated early-stage clinical trials to test a combined flu/COVID vaccine.
Don’t go looking for either combo shot this flu season, though.
“I do not think that this is going to be something available in the short term, especially not for this flu season as flu vaccinations have already become available,” he says.
Schaffner agrees.
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“They’re looking to the future,” Schaffner says of the drug companies. “They think COVID boosters will be necessary, and they’re even laying their bet this might be a good idea on an annual basis, because that would be the schedule in which you would need to get the flu vaccine. They’re thinking about that pretty seriously and have invested a bunch of science in it.”
Adalja says the combo COVID/flu shot could be a smart idea, if it turns out we do need boosters against COVID.
“The more vaccines that can be packed into one shot the better, as it makes getting vaccinated and staying on schedule convenient,” he says. “Whether this is a vaccine everyone needs depends upon the data supporting the need for booster COVID vaccinations, which has