A new vaccine developed by Moderna provides protection against both seasonal flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19. (Photo by Andrew Brooks via Getty Images)
Two vaccines may be more effective than one: Trial results show that a new vaccine that targets both seasonal flu and COVID-19 viruses produces a more powerful immune response than flu and COVID shots given separately.
The combination vaccine, called mRNA-1083, is being produced by the pharmaceutical company Moderna. Encouraging results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of the vaccine were published May 7 in the journal JAMA. The late-stage study included two groups of adults aged 50 and older who were given either the new vaccine or a combination of previously approved flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Trial participants measured the amount of antibodies, or protective immune proteins, produced in response to each vaccine regimen. Antibody levels are linked to how well a vaccine is expected to protect against a disease and how long that protection is likely to last. While this data does not provide direct information about how well a vaccine reduces infection in real life, it is ethically difficult to collect such data when effective vaccines against a disease already exist.
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