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[1/3]A woman receives a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Oct 26 (Reuters) – Pfizer (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech said on Thursday that their vaccine to prevent flu and COVID-19 generated a strong immune response against strains of the viruses in an early- to mid-stage trial.
The companies said they plan to start a late-stage trial in the coming months.
“This vaccine has the potential to lessen the impact of two respiratory diseases with a single injection and may simplify immunization practices,” Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer’s head of vaccine research and development, said in a statement.
In the trial, the vaccine candidates were compared to a licensed influenza vaccine and the companies’ updated COVID-19 vaccine given at the same visit.
The data from the trial showed that the flu-COVID vaccine demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B and SARS-CoV-2 strains, the companies said.
(This story has been refiled to fix syntax in the headline)
Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D’Souza
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Dr. Debi Johnson is a medical expert and health journalist dedicated to promoting well-being. With a background in medicine, she offers evidence-based insights into health trends and wellness practices. Beyond her reporting, Dr. Debi enjoys hiking, yoga, and empowering others to lead healthier lives.
