Positive results from the first study of high-dose influenza vaccine with a COVID-19 mRNA booster support co-administration recommendations
- First study to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of both vaccines when co-administered compared to each vaccine administered separately in adults aged 65 years and older
- Timely new data for the start of the influenza vaccination campaigns across the Northern Hemisphere
Interim results from the first co-administration descriptive study of Sanofi’s Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine with Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA investigational booster dose show that the administration of the vaccines at the same visit had similar immunogenicity responses and a similar safety and tolerability profile compared to each vaccine administered individually.
Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent is a high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine, indicated for adults aged 65 and older in the United States and Canada. It is also licensed under the brand name Efluelda® in Europe where it is indicated for adults aged 60 and older. Fluzone High-Dose is the only influenza vaccine that has demonstrated reductions in influenza-related complications such as hospitalizations due to cardiovascular events and pneumonia, over 10 consecutive seasons in more than 34 million people aged 65 and older1,2,3.
“This season, more than ever, it is critical to help protect the older adults, who are at especially high risk for both severe COVID-19 and complications from influenza, which can include heart attacks and strokes,” says Dr. Michael Greenberg, North America Medical Head for Vaccines at Sanofi. “This is the first study to provide supportive evidence for vaccinating against influenza at the same time as a COVID-19 mRNA booster in seniors. These positive results could facilitate the implementation of Northern Hemisphere influenza and COVID-19 booster vaccination campaigns, especially in this high-risk population.”
These encouraging results reinforce existing co-administration recommendations across the world. Concomitant use of COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccines is currently permissible in several countries4, including the US5, France6, the UK7 and Germany8.
