Co-Administering COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines Found Safe and Effective

During today's U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, Ruvim Izikson, M.D., MPH, presented 'Phase II safety and immunogenicity study of the coadministration of an influenza vaccine and high-dose flu shot.'

This study is essential since the new COVID-19 vaccine primary series timing and strategy, and older adults are most likely eligible for COVID-19 boosters and their annual influenza vaccine during the same window of time.

This scheduling conflict creates the risk that many seniors get vaccinated only for one or the other; with the priority on the 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the annual flu shot is more likely the missed vaccination.

This study's results are based on Sanofi Pasteur's Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV-HD) and the third dose of SpikeVax COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, mRNA-1273) on October 20, 2021.

This vaccine study assesses the safety and immunogenicity of Fluzone, 2021–2022 Formulation, and the third dose of SpikeVax (100µg), administered either concomitantly or singly in adults 65 yrs+, previously vaccinated with a 2-dose schedule of the SpikeVax vaccine.

The study's results demonstrate that QIV-HD and SpikeVax vaccines can be administered safely together without evidence of immunogenicity interference.

In summary, this finding supports COVID-19 and influenza vaccine coadministration recommendations.