The Pfizer COVID omicron-specific booster elicited a response four times higher as measured by neutralizing antibody titer against omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. as compared to the original vaccine. The booster was especially effective in recipients older than 55 who demonstrated a 13-fold rise in antibody titer.

Pfizer and BioNTech have initiated a Phase 1 trial for a combined influenza and COVID vaccine, applying nRNA technology.  Dr.Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech, stated, “By combining both antigens in one vaccine, we aim to provide individuals with an efficient way to receive immunization against two respiratory diseases with evolving viruses that require vaccine adaptation.”

A combination COVID and influenza vaccine that incorporates the most recent subtypes of both pathogens would be beneficial to enhancing population immunity.  The problem will be to persuade sufficient people to take advantage of the convenience and efficacy of a single vaccine.  Since introduction in late 2020, there has been unjustified opposition to available COVID vaccines, despite epidemiologic data showing higher rates of hospitalization and fatality in the unvaccinated.  Previously, a proportion of the population was willing to receive an annual inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine but rejected COVID protection.  If the same mentality prevails, the U.S. population will, in all probability, have a higher proportion of individuals susceptible to both influenza and COVID unless the vaccines are offered as separate options.