Moderna’s COVID-19/Influenza Combination Vaccine Superior To Separate Shots In Trial

Reuters (6/10, Wingrove) reports Moderna announced “on Monday its combination vaccine to protect against both COVID-19 and influenza generated a stronger immune response in adults aged 50 and over when compared to separate shots against the viruses in a late-stage trial.” In the trial, “the combination using messenger RNA technology generated greater antibodies than currently marketed traditional flu vaccines and Moderna’s Spikevax mRNA COVID shot, the company said.” CNN (6/10, Christensen) reports, “Moderna’s Phase 3 trial was a randomized, observer-blind, active control study, meaning that even the clinicians giving the shots didn’t know who got which vaccines. The trial studied the vaccine in two different age groups” – those 65 and older, and those between 50 and 65 – “with about 4,000 adults in each age category.” ABC News (6/10, Benadjaoud) reports, “There are still multiple steps required before the shot would become available. Moderna would need to apply to the FDA for approval, which may require input from the FDA’s independent panel of experts.” And the CDC would have to sign off before it could be distributed.