Category: Flu Vaccine

By Luke Andrews Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com 19:02 25 Jun 2024, updated 21:21 25 Jun 2024

Finlandwill become the first nation to offer bird flu vaccinations as it plans to roll out the shots next week to high-risk workers amid rising concerns over the virus jumping from animals to people.

Officials in the Nordic nation say 10,000 doses will be administered to those working closely with animals, such as poultry and fur farm workers.

Patients will receive two doses of the shot at least a week apart, with vaccines to be distributed once they are delivered from stockpiles in central Europe.

The bird flu virus is currently not well-adapted to infect people, with the CDCsaying the risk to humans is 'low,' but experts fear this could change if it undergoes new mutations, saying every additional infection outside of birds poses a risk.

Globally, at least 11 humans have tested positive for bird flu across four countries so far this year. Cambodia has the most cases, with five, followed by three in the US, which is currently experiencing a major bird flu outbreak among cows.

No human infections have been recorded in Finland as of yet.

But the country ordered the roll out after an outbreak of the virus on 27 fur farms in the country last year, including those housing mink and foxes.

Although no humans were infected by the virus, the cases did lead to 485,000 animals being culled to stop the disease from spreading.

In its campaign, Finland will offer a vaccine targeting theH5 protein on the virus, which officials say will likely work well against H5N1 infections.

The vaccines will be shipped from the Australian company CSL Seqirus as part of a European Union campaign to procure 40million doses in 15 countries.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said in a statement: 'The vaccine will be offered to those aged 18 or over who are at increased risk of contracting avian influenza due to their work or other circumstances.'

This includes those working on fur and poultry farms, as well as lab technicians who handle bird flu samples and veterinarians working in areas with fur farms.

People who work in sanctuaries caring for wild birds, on farms or those who clean slaughterhouses and animal housing will also be offered the vaccine.

If a human infection is detected, the shot would also be administered to the person's close contacts, officials added.

Health officials say the vaccine is expected to trigger sufficient antibodies to protect against a bird flu infection.

A previous study involving 3,400 people found 90 percent of those under 60 years old and 80 percent of those over 60 years old had antibody levels that 'would protect them against H5N1'. Studies have also shown the vaccine is safe to use.

In the US, a total of 4.8million doses of a bird flu vaccine are set to be delivered by late summer although there are currently no plans to distribute them.

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America's department of agriculture reports 118 dairy cow herds across 12 states have confirmed H5N1 cases and the three human cases were in people with direct contact with infected cattle.

They experienced swelling of the eyes and respiratory symptoms.

Despite the spread, the CDC said the risk to humans is low.

The outbreak in cattle is unprecedented, and has raised concerns the virus could be a step closer to spreading to humans.

But H5N1 has been causing a major outbreak in the animal world for months infecting everything from foxes to raccoons and even dolphins and seals.

Finnish officials said they want to roll out the vaccine as soon as possible to minimize the risk of the bird flu spreading to humans.

They said the country faces a heightened risk because most of its fur farms are outdoors where animals kept in them can come into contact with wild animals raising their risk of contracting the virus and passing it onto humans.

Minks pose a particular risk because the animals carry similar receptors in their lungs to humans, meaning they could act as 'mixing vessels' for spreading the virus to humans.

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Finland to roll out vaccines for bird flu next week in world first- as human cases of virus spread across the - Daily Mail

The H5N1 virus, also known as avian or bird flu, is once again in the news and on the radar of scientists and public health officials as a growing number of infections have been found in dairy cattle and farm workers.

David Topham, PhD, a professor of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the University of Rochester Translational Immunology and Infectious Disease Institute, has been studying the H5N1 and other influenza viruses for 27 years.

Topham: The H5N1 virus has been in North America for quite a long time in both wild birds and domestic poultry. A few years ago, a large outbreak in chickens and turkeys prompted farms to cull their entire flocks. Bird flu has been circulating in dairy cattle for at least five to six months and probably longer, but we don't know exactly when or where it jumped over.

We assume its a respiratory infection in cattle, and it also looks like the udders are infected because were finding a lot of virus in milk. There are also reports of infections in cats, which is concerning because theyre biologically closer to humans than cattle are.

The recent cases in humans have been dairy workers in a handful of states (not New York) who have close contact with the cattle. This is similar to what weve experienced since 1997, when H5N1 first emerged, and the people infected were either working with infected poultry or taking care of severely ill family members. So, transmission of H5N1 in humans so far resulted from very intense contact, as opposed to casually spreading.

Topham: Viral particles have been detected in the milk supply, but people should rest assured that pasteurization kills microorganisms, including the H5N1 virus.

A lot of people feel that drinking raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk and I respect that. But when there's potentially a pathogen floating around in that milk, that changes the equation, and I would recommend avoiding raw milk at present.

Topham: Get vaccinated. Flu vaccines aren't perfect, but even a badly matched vaccine is better than no vaccine and will offer a degree of protection. It won't necessarily keep you from getting infected, but people that have more immunity tend to experience less-severe symptoms.

Topham: Anytime these viruses start to pop up in environments where lots of people are present and there are signs of infection, that's a concern. Because the more often that happens, the more likely that two viruses, such as the human influenza virus and the avian H5N1 virus, will mix and a new virus can emerge.

This is just like reshuffling a deck of cards, and if the virus gets a better hand maybe it acquires the ability to spread from person to person via the respiratory route, and that would be really bad. This mixing event is the biggest concern and a major red line, because thats historically how pandemic influenza has emerged.

Topham: The good news is that we already have an H5N1 vaccine stockpile. We've developed vaccines against this strain that may not be a perfect match but will be close enough. In fact, the government has ordered manufacturers to begin increasing the stockpiles. So if the virus were to emerge, we could scale up very quickly and we would rapidly begin vaccinating people.

The COVID pandemic has accelerated the process of vaccine development, testing, and manufacturing and we are able to quickly ramp up the production even against newly emerged variants. We can do it in months instead of years. Tamiflu and the other antivirals against influenza look like they're effective against this virus.

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What Is H5N1 Bird Flu, How it Spreads to Humans, and Safety Concerns - URMC

Earlier this week, Moderna announced positive results for its phase 3 clinical trial of a combined vaccine against COVID and influenza.

So what exactly did the trial find? And what sort of impact would a two-in-one COVID and flu vaccine have on public health? Let's take a look.

Combination vaccines have been successfully used for several decades in Australia and around the world.

For example, the DTP vaccine, a shot that combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), was first administered in 1948.

The DTP vaccine has since been further combined to offer protection against other diseases. A hexavalent vaccine, which protects against six diseases diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (an infection that can cause brain swelling) is today part of routine childhood immunisation programs in Australia and elsewhere.

Another important combination vaccine is the MMR vaccine, given to children to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.

Moderna's phase 3 trial included roughly 8,000 participants across two age groups. Half were adults aged 50 to 64. The other half were aged 65 and up.

In both age groups, participants were randomised to either receive the combined vaccine (called mRNA-1083) or a control. The control groups received a COVID vaccine and a suitable flu vaccine delivered separately.

The control group in the 50-to-64 age category were given the Fluarix flu vaccine, as well as Moderna's mRNA COVID vaccine, Spikevax. The over-65 control group received Spikevax alongside Fluzone HD, an enhanced flu vaccine designed specifically for older adults.

The study evaluated safety, including any reactions after vaccination, and the protective immune response the vaccines produced.

Moderna reported the combined vaccine elicited a higher immune response in both age groups against COVID and three influenza strains, compared to the co-administered shots.

From a safety perspective, the combined vaccine was well tolerated. Adverse reactions were similar across the experimental and control groups. The most common side effects included muscle aches, fatigue and pain at the injection site.

While the trial results are promising, they are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means independent experts haven't yet verified them. And further research may be required to test how the combined vaccine works in younger age groups.

We cannot overstate the importance of vaccines. Each year they prevent up to 5 million deaths around the world from a range of life-threatening infections.

At the same time, we can always do more to boost vaccination uptake, especially in areas with fewer resources and among vulnerable populations.

Combination vaccines have a variety of advantages. For example, the need for fewer injections reduces costs for health systems, decreases storage requirements and reduces the burden on parents. All of these things can be especially valuable in low-income countries.

Notably, research shows combination vaccines make it more likely people will take up routine vaccinations.

Every year, particularly during the winter months, millions of people contract respiratory infections. Indeed, parts of Australia are reported to be facing rapid increases in flu cases at the moment.

According to the World Health Organization, globally, roughly 3 million to 5 million people experience severe influenza annually, and around 650,000 people will die from the disease.

COVID has resulted in more than 7 million deaths around the world to date.

As the COVID pandemic has continued, we've seen pandemic fatigue setting in, as some people appear to have become complacent about their COVID shots. A 2023 study in Australia found 30 percent of the surveyed population were hesitant about and 9 percent were resistant to taking COVID boosters.

Uptake of the flu vaccine, which many people are in the habit of getting annually, may be higher. That said, in Australia the current flu vaccine rates for 2024 are still fairly low: 53 percent for adults over 65 years, 26 percent for those aged 50 to 65, and lower for younger age groups.

A two-in-one COVID and flu vaccine could be an important public health tool to increase vaccine coverage against these two important diseases. Beyond protecting individuals' health, this would have flow-on benefits for the economy and our health system.

Moderna said it will present its trial data at an upcoming medical conference and submit it for publication. The company has also said it will soon apply for regulatory approval, with the possibility of supplying the combined vaccine in 2025.

At the same time, Pfizer and BioNTech also have late-stage trials in progress for a combined COVID and flu vaccine. We will await further developments with interest.

Jaya Dantas, Deputy Chair, Academic Board; Dean International, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Professor of International Health, Curtin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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A Single Vaccine For COVID And The Flu Promises to Be a Big Win For Public Health - ScienceAlert

AS chairman of the Malaysian Influenza Working Group (MIWG), I noted with interest the recent announcement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad regarding the plan to provide free annual influenza vaccinations for older persons under the National Immunisation Programme, beginning in 2025.

This announcement comes almost a year after MIWG, along with partner organisations such as the Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine, the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia and 30 other organisations, initiated a petition requesting government-funded influenza vaccinations for our senior citizens, who are particularly vulnerable to influenza-related complications.

This is important as older persons experience a decline of immunity as they age and, unlike healthy adults, often do not show regular symptoms when infected by influenza. Instead, they can experience other symptoms such as a decline in overall health, increased risk of injuries due to falls and others.

For those who are unaware, influenza is more serious than a cold it is not just the flu but can be deadly.

While everyone, including young and healthy people, is at risk of contracting influenza, it often takes a heavier toll on older adults. It takes only one infection to increase the risk of heart attack by 10 times and stroke, caused by a blood clot, by eight times.

Older persons are also more likely to experience complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the heart and sepsis. These illnesses often require hospitalisation and may lead to death.

Up to 70% of influenza-related hospitalisations and 85% of influenza-related deaths occur among those 65 years and above. Furthermore, the risk of influenza-related deaths increases with the presence of more than one non-communicable disease (NCD), which is the case with many of our older adults.

This risk of influenza-related death increases by 20 times for those with heart and pulmonary disease, five times for those with heart diseases, and three times for those with diabetes.

In addition, influenza infection can worsen or complicate NCD symptoms such as exacerbation of diabetic symptoms, causing fluctuations in glucose levels.

These manifold risks are well acknowledged, resulting in many countries, including Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore, already offering free influenza vaccines to older persons.

Tackling ongoing risks

While we look forward to this on our shores, I urge Malaysians to take action sooner rather than later to protect themselves and their loved ones against influenza as the virus circulates year-round in tropical climates like ours.

The threat, therefore, is always present. Southeast Asia is ranked third highest in influenza-related deaths but only 2-3% of Malaysians are vaccinated against influenza. The influenza vaccine has been around for close to 80 years, since 1945, with extensive research supporting its safety records.

Protecting ourselves and our loved ones with a simple annual shot can help reduce severe illnesses and complications, the cost of treatment and management as well as the corresponding burden on our healthcare practitioners and resources. Most importantly, influenza vaccinations can help save lives.

Heightened awareness needed

Although the influenza vaccine is well-established in many parts of the world, a recent Ipsos survey in Malaysia involving around 600 respondents aged 65 years and older highlighted that more education is needed to dispel common fears and misconceptions.

For example, 52% of respondents still feel that influenza is only a concern in cold climates, and though 70% were aware that it can be prevented through vaccination, 64% were concerned about serious side effects, with 28% believing the misconception that the influenza vaccine is not suitable for people their age. In addition, 69% believe they were already protected through the Covid-19 vaccine.

With such thoughts prevalent, it is hardly surprising that vaccination ranked a lowly eighth place in self-care practices.

Moving towards better vaccine coverage

Malaysia is moving towards becoming one of the aged countries by 2030, with 15.3% of our population being 60 years old and above, and hence, the burden of influenza on our older persons is a public health concern that we can no longer afford to ignore.

To set the foundation for a successful vaccination programme, more intensive educational campaigns are needed, strategically designed to address these misconceptions and alleviate their concerns.

We must acknowledge that awareness is important at all levels, involving government and non-government stakeholders, healthcare professionals and communities, to change perceptions and encourage action.

As frontliners who witness first-hand the effects of heightened risk and complications from influenza among older adults, I call upon the entire community of healthcare professionals to continue acting as advocates and playing an active role in educating and encouraging yearly influenza vaccination, especially among this vulnerable population.

Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi

Chairman

Malaysian Influenza Working Group

Read more from the original source:

Importance of influenza vaccination for the elderly - theSun

MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW)Twenty-four companies are working to develop an avian flu vaccine for cattle, as the virus spreads among U.S. dairy herds.

Bird flu has infected 90 dairy herds across 12 states since late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Three human cases, all dairy farm workers, have also been reported two in Michigan and one in Texas.

In addition to the two dozen companies working at varying stages of vaccine development, the USDA is conducting its own preliminary research into a vaccine at its laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

The agencys other efforts on bird flu include research into the possibility of respiratory spread of the virus between cows. The main risks to the spreading of bird flu on dairy farms appears to be the movement of people and equipment.

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Two Dozen Companies Working on Bird Flu Vaccine - KMIT

Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. We can tell because the pace of motor vehicles passing by our window is picking up and the official mascots are busy foraging for snacks on the campus grounds. As for us, we are engaged in the usual ritual of brewing cups of stimulation. Our choice today is strawberry cream. As always, you are invited to join us. The neurons could use all the help they can get. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits for you to digest as you embark on your journey, which we hope is satisfying and rewarding. On that note, time to get cracking. Best of luck, and do keep in touch.

Pfizer reported that its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy failed to slow disease progression in a Phase 3 trial, STAT notes. This is the second large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a Duchenne therapy to fail to reach its primary endpoint, a composite scale of muscle function designed specifically for the rare disease. A similar study of a Sarepta therapy failed last year, although the company cited secondary measures as evidence its treatment still slowed the fatal, muscle-wasting condition. Pfizer said that in its study, which enrolled 99 boys between ages 4 and 7 and followed them for a year, its therapy did not show any difference on those key secondary endpoints.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says that 24 companies are working to develop an avian flu vaccine for cattle, as the virus spreads among U.S. dairy herds, Reuters says. Bird flu has infected 95 dairy herds across 12 states since late March and three dairy farm workers have been infected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A vaccine could curb the risk of bird flu spreading to new species and lessen potential economic losses for dairy farmers, but may take years to develop. In addition to the two dozen companies working at varying stages of vaccine development, the USDA is conducting its own preliminary research into a vaccine at its laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

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Pharmalittle: We're reading about a Pfizer drug for Duchenne, bird flu vaccines for cows, and more - STAT

Earlier this week, Moderna announced positive results for its phase3 clinical trial of a combined vaccine against COVID and influenza.

So what exactly did the trial find? And what sort of impact would a two-in-one COVID and flu vaccine have on public health? Lets take a look.

Combination vaccines have been successfully used for several decades in Australia and around the world.

For example, the DTP vaccine, a shot that combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), was first administered in 1948.

The DTP vaccine has since been further combined to offer protection against other diseases. A hexavalent vaccine, which protects against six diseases diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitisB and Haemophilus influenzae typeb (an infection that can cause brain swelling) is today part of routine childhood immunisation programs in Australia and elsewhere.

Another important combination vaccine is the MMR vaccine, given to children to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.

Modernas phase 3 trial included roughly 8,000 participants across two age groups. Half were adults aged 50 to 64. The other half were aged 65 and up.

In both age groups, participants were randomised to either receive the combined vaccine (called mRNA-1083) or a control. The control groups received a COVID vaccine and a suitable flu vaccine delivered separately.

The control group in the 50-to-64 age category were given the Fluarix flu vaccine, as well as Modernas mRNA COVID vaccine, Spikevax. The over-65 control group received Spikevax alongside Fluzone HD, an enhanced flu vaccine designed specifically for older adults.

The study evaluated safety, including any reactions after vaccination, and the protective immune response the vaccines produced.

Moderna reported the combined vaccine elicited a higher immune response in both age groups against COVID and three influenza strains, compared to the co-administered shots.

From a safety perspective, the combined vaccine was well tolerated. Adverse reactions were similar across the experimental and control groups. The most common side effects included muscle aches, fatigue and pain at the injection site.

While the trial results are promising, they are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means independent experts havent yet verified them. And further research may be required to test how the combined vaccine works in younger age groups.

We cannot overstate the importance of vaccines. Each year they prevent up to 5million deaths around the world from a range of life-threatening infections.

At the same time, we can always do more to boost vaccination uptake, especially in areas with fewer resources and among vulnerable populations.

Combination vaccines have a variety of advantages. For example, the need for fewer injections reduces costs for health systems, decreases storage requirements and reduces the burden on parents. All of these things can be especially valuable in low-income countries.

Notably, research shows combination vaccines make it more likely people will take up routine vaccinations.

Every year, particularly during the winter months, millions of people contract respiratory infections. Indeed, parts of Australia are reported to be facing rapid increases in flu cases at the moment.

According to the World Health Organization, globally, roughly 3million to 5million people experience severe influenza annually, and around 650,000 people will die from the disease.

COVID has resulted in more than 7million deaths around the world to date.

As the COVID pandemic has continued, weve seen pandemic fatigue setting in, as some people appear to have become complacent about their COVID shots. A 2023 study in Australia found 30% of the surveyed population were hesitant about and 9% were resistant to taking COVID boosters.

Uptake of the flu vaccine, which many people are in the habit of getting annually, may be higher. That said, in Australia the current flu vaccine rates for 2024 are still fairly low: 53% for adults over 65 years, 26% for those aged 50 to 65, and lower for younger age groups.

A two-in-one COVID and flu vaccine could be an important public health tool to increase vaccine coverage against these two important diseases. Beyond protecting individuals health, this would have flow-on benefits for the economy and our health system.

Moderna said it will present its trial data at an upcoming medical conference and submit it for publication. The company has also said it will soon apply for regulatory approval, with the possibility of supplying the combined vaccine in 2025.

At the same time, Pfizer and BioNTech also have late-stage trials in progress for a combined COVID and flu vaccine. We will await further developments with interest.

More:

Results are looking promising for a combined COVID and flu vaccine. Here's how it could benefit public health - The Conversation Indonesia

The first shipments are headed to Finland

The European Unionwill sign a contract on Tuesday to secure over 40 million doses of a preventative avian flu vaccine for 15 countries with the first shipments heading to Finland, Reuters reported, citingEU officials on Monday.

The deal secures up to 665,000 doses from vaccine manufacturer CSL Seqirus and includes an option for a further 40 million vaccines for a maximum of four years. The vaccines will be jointly procured by the Commission's emergency health arm HERA and 15 countries in the EU and the European Economic Area.

The doses are intended for those most exposed to the virus, such as poultry farm workers and veterinarians. The United States, Canada and Britain are also in the process of securing preventative vaccine doses.

"When it comes to avian influenza we are continuously and actively monitoring the situation...and tomorrow, with our Member States, we are ensuring access to over 40 million doses of avian influenza vaccine to protect those most exposed. Deliveries to countries that have immediate needs are already on their way," EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told Reuters.

The H5N1 virus has spread across most of the US states affecting primarily poultry and in recent months over 80 dairy farms.

So far, there have been no confirmed human-to-human transfers though three people in the US were infected after exposure to infected cattle since April 1.

There are no active cases in humans or in cattle in the EU, as of early June according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

"Transmission to humans remains a rare event and no sustained transmission between humans has been observed so far," the ECDC said in a weekly report for June 1-7.

"The risk of zoonotic influenza transmission to the general public in EU/EEA countries is considered to be low."

The Commission, through HERA, has already secured 111 million doses from GSK and Seqirus of pandemic influenza vaccines, which can be adapted to any prevailing flu strain.

Original post:

EU to secure 40 million avian flu vaccines for 15 countries - officials - http://www.thecattlesite.com

As of last month, more than twice as many adults in the U.S. had been vaccinated against the seasonal flu than had received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, even though COVID hospitalization rates were higher than those for influenza.

But with Moderna announcing the success of its combined mRNA COVID-19 and flu shot in a late stage trial, company executives said they hope to see an increase in the number of people adhering to vaccination recommendations.

A combination vaccine that could provide dual protection in a single shot has the potential to encourage more widespread vaccination uptake while also reducing the burden of acute respiratory disease on health systems, Francesca Ceddia, Modernas chief medical affairs officer, said in a June 10 blog post.

She said that uptake of the 2023/2024 flu vaccine was 48.4% and 22.4% for the updated COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18. She pointed to CDC statistics that showed the only time in the past seven months hospitalizations for flu were higher than for COVID-19 was a couple of weeks in late December and early January.

The convenience of the two-for-one shot could drive up the percentage of people vaccinated against the coronavirus, says Mansoor Amiji, Northeastern University distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering.

But he says it also has the potential of decreasing flu vaccinations among people who harbor politically tinged fear of the COVID-19 vaccine and the mRNA technology used to create it and the Moderna combination vaccine.

The jury is out to some degree because on one hand there is an advantage because compliance-wise you only have to get one shot instead of two, Amiji says.

That development can appeal to people who are afraid of needles as well as those pressed for time, he says.

People could get one shot and be protected from both of these infections, Amiji says.

But some people may say, I dont want to get a COVID vaccine, so Im not going to get the flu shot either, he says.

The politically charged nature of beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine, which is based on mRNA technology, means you could deter people from getting either one of the two when you combine them together.

And while Moderna reported that side effects of the combination vaccine were relatively mild, including injection site pain, fatigue, myalgia and headache, those who remember stories of people getting chills and fever after their COVID shot might shy away, Amiji says.

That would be a mistake, he says.

From a safety perspective, the (mRNA) technology is better than anything we have seen in the past.

Some companies are working on developing an mRNA vaccine solely against influenza, but pharmaceutical companies see a great deal of potential with two-in-one vaccines. Moderna competitors Pfizer and BioNTech are currently working on their own versions of the combination shot.

On June 10, Moderna executives announced that a Phase 3 trial of the combination shots, known as mRNA 1083, showed that its efficacy was just as good as or better than single shots in a study of two groups of 4,000 people, one for ages 50 to 64 and the other 65 and up.

Moderna is the only company with a positive Phase 3 flu and COVID combination vaccine, company CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement.

The company said the next steps are to present the Phase 3 clinical data at an upcoming medical conference and submit it for publication.

Until the data has been peer reviewed, Modernas statements have to be taken with a grain of salt, Amiji says.

Even with FDA approval, the two-in-one vaccine probably would not be available until fall 2025 at the earliest, Amiji says.

But the good news is that its in Phase 3 and has been tested in 8,000 people, he says.

They are taking advantage of this unique attribute of the mRNA platform technology, which is that you can combine mRNA sequences into one package and deliver multiple copies of mRNA that will develop antigens and protect against multiple diseases, Amiji says.

In the near future, he sees a three-in-one vaccine being developed that will potentially immunize people against flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

Here is the original post:

Will People Sign Up for Moderna's Combined COVID-Flu Shot? - Northeastern University

Greetings from London, with STAT reporter Andrew Joseph here filling in for Ed. Were dealing with some decidedly June Gloom today, though we suppose that makes it easier to sit in front of a computer instead of longing to escape outside. Whatever you need to power through your day, and your week, we hope you find it. Now to the news tidbits.

Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend the approval of a drug for early Alzheimers disease made by Eli Lilly ruling that the treatments ability to slow the cognitive decline in patients outweighed its safety risks, STAT summarizes for us. The outcome of the daylong advisory panel was the best-case scenario for Lilly, making it likely that the FDA will approve the drug, called donanemab, for a broad population of people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimers. A decision is expected later this year, and if approved, donanemab would be the second such medicine to reach the market, following a similar antibody called Leqembi that is sold by Eisai and Biogen.

The European Commission on Tuesday announced a contract to secure more than 40 million doses of a preventive avian flu vaccine for 15 countries across the EU and the European Economic Area, the Financial Times reports. The deal procures up to 665,000 vaccine doses which can be adapted to any prevailing bird flu strain from manufacturer CSL Seqirus and includes a provision for a further 40 million vaccines over the next four years. The deal comes as governments monitor an increase in bird flu outbreaks, including among U.S. dairy cows.

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Pharmalittle: We're reading about Lilly's Alzheimer's drug, an EU contract for bird flu vaccine, and more - STAT