2-in-1 COVID-flu vaccine looks promising, but approval could be delayed

A new vaccine that targets the viruses behind seasonal flu and COVID-19 triggers a stronger immune response.

The new vaccine is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that Moderna used in its FDA -approved vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

The CDC recommends that people get both annual flu and updated COVID vaccines at the same time.

The combination vaccine would be "a one -stop shop," a doctor says.

Moderna 's latest Phase 3 clinical trial was to measure the robustness of the immune response the mRNA-1083 vaccine triggers in people.

Moderna showed that its new COVID vaccine induced greater immune responses than Spikevax — the FDA -approved shot — against XBB.1.5 , a version of the omicron variant.

mRNA vaccines have proved to be very safe and effective, but this history may pose a barrier to FDA approval of the new combination vaccine.

The existence of already-approved separate vaccines for flu and COVID-19 may lessen the urgency in getting the mRNA-1083 approved.

NIH officials were cautioned to keep the term "mRNA" out of grant applications.