Moderna study shows immune response in older adults for a combo flu and COVID-19 shot

A operation changeable for flu and COVID-19 utilizing messenger RNA generated antibodies successful a study, but U.S. government regulators privation to spot information connected whether the caller vaccine protects radical from getting sick.

Researchers from vaccine-maker Moderna reported successful a survey published Wednesday that the caller combo changeable generated a stronger immune effect against COVID-19 and astir strains of flu than existing standalone shots successful radical 50 and older. Side effects were injection tract pain, fatigue and headaches. Moderna antecedently reported a summary of the results from the company-sponsored proceedings successful 8,000 people.

The mRNA exertion is utilized successful approved COVID-19 and RSV shots, but has not yet been approved for a flu shot. Moderna believes mRNA could velocity up accumulation of flu shots compared with accepted processes that usage chickenhearted eggs oregon elephantine vats of cells. A combo changeable besides mightiness amended vaccination rates, the researchers wrote successful the survey published successful the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Greg Poland, who studies vaccine effect astatine Mayo Clinic and was not progressive successful the caller study, said he's not convinced that a combo changeable would beryllium popular. And portion flu comes successful seasonal waves, COVID-19 has been spreading passim the year, Poland said, posing challenges for however to clip the shots to support extortion strong.

He'd besides similar to spot information connected however good the caller changeable protected radical from corruption and hospitalization.

The findings are based connected measuring antibodies successful participants’ humor aft 29 days, an denotation of short-term illness protection.

Last week, Moderna pushed its people day for the vaccine's support to 2026 aft the Food and Drug Administration requested a much nonstop measure: however overmuch the changeable lowered the hazard of disease.

“I hold successful this lawsuit with FDA that efficacy information are important to see,” Poland said.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has formed uncertainty connected the information of mRNA vaccines, but Moderna President Stephen Hoge told investors successful an net telephone past week that talks with the FDA were productive and “business arsenic usual.”

Also past week, Novavax said the FDA was asking the institution to tally a caller objective proceedings of its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine aft the bureau grants afloat approval, sowing uncertainty astir different vaccine updates.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives enactment from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely liable for each content.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.