Promising Results for Combo Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine

A new vaccine that combines flu and COVID-19 protection in one shot shows promising results, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants more data before it can be approved. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, focused on adults ages 50 and older and included 8,015 participants. The vaccine produced a stronger immune response against COVID-19 and most flu strains than individual vaccines already on the market. Common side effects included pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headaches.

Key Takeaways:

• The combo shot produced a stronger immune response against COVID-19 and most flu strains than individual vaccines already on the market.
• The study included 8,015 participants, ages 50 and older, and focused on adults in this age group.
• Common side effects included pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headaches.
• The vaccine uses mRNA technology, which is also used in existing vaccines for COVID and respiratory syncytical virus (RSV).
• The study's results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on May 7, 2025.
• The FDA still wants proof that the shot prevents people from getting sick or ending up in the hospital.
• Dr. Greg Poland, a vaccine expert at the Mayo Clinic, agrees with the FDA that efficacy data are important to see.

Statistics:

• 8,015: The number of participants in the study.
• 50: The minimum age of participants in the study.
• 29: The number of days after vaccination when antibody levels were measured.
• 1: The number of common side effects reported, including pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headaches.
• 2026: The year Moderna now expects approval of the shot.

Sources:

• The Associated Press, May 7, 2025
• Journal of the American Medical Association, published May 7, 2025
• John Hopkins' Institute for Vaccine Safety