Dual Covid, flu Vaccine first of its kind in country

A combined Covid-19 and influenza vaccine is being trialled in Queensland in the hope it will protect people who otherwise cannot have, or are hesitant about, another type.

Mater Health director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin

A first-of-its-kind combined Covid-19 and influenza vaccine is being trialled by Queensland scientists in the hope it will protect people who otherwise cannot have, or are hesitant about, other types.

The non-mRNA vaccine offers an alterative to those who have a weakened immune system, cancer or a history of cancer, for whom mRNA vaccines are not as effective.

It may also be more appealing to those who snub mRNA vaccines because they teach cells how to make a small piece of the virus to trigger an immune response.

The Novavax vaccine that will be trialled at the Mater in Brisbane is a protein-based vaccine that contains part of the coronavirus spike protein.

There are currently no protein-based Covid-19 vaccinations available for use in Australia.

When injected, the immune system cells recognise the spike protein as a threat and begin building an immune response against it.

Mater Health director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin, the principal investigator of the clinical trial, said Queensland had just experienced a very significant influenza season and Covid-19 was still present in the community.

As of September 30 there were still 598 cases of Covid-19 and 374 of influenza in the state.

“We know that the majority of people are currently under-vaccinated against both influenza and Covid-19,” Prof Griffin said.

“We hope that providing people with the option of an approved combination vaccine will help with vaccine uptake as there will be no need for two jabs.

“Making it simpler could have a very big impact.”

Only 559,000 Queenslanders received a Covid-19 vaccination in the past 12 months, out of a population of 5.56m.

More than 1.7m Queenslanders were vaccinated against influenza this year, 400,000 fewer than during the free flu vaccination campaign in 2022.

Prof Griffin said the trial may benefit those who were hesitant about mRNA vaccinations.

“We know there are many people who cannot have or do not want to have an mRNA vaccine,” Prof Griffin said.

“Participating in this trial gives people access to a non-mRNA option as part of the trial, and will provide the data upon which a decision can potentially be made to approve them in the future.”

A representative from Mater Research’s Respiratory, Infectious Disease and Thoracic Oncology Unit said 150 participants were required for the trial.

Healthy volunteers aged over 65 who received an influenza vaccine more than two months ago are invited to take part.

The Novavax trial will start next Monday and run for three weeks.