The European Commission authorised the first combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine for people 50 years and older

The European Commission has recently published on the Union Register of medicinal products the decision granting EU marketing authorisation for mCombriax, an mRNA vaccine to protect people aged 50 years and older against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. 

Most cases of COVID-19 and influenza are mild or moderate, but severe cases do occur, particularly in older people and people with weakened immune systems. Co-infection with influenza and COVID-19 can result in more severe disease than would occur with either virus infection alone.

mCombriax works like other vaccines by preparing the body to defend itself against infection. It contains messenger RNA with instructions for making proteins found on the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) and in three seasonal influenza viruses (type A-H1N1, type A-H3N2 and type B Victoria lineage).

The authorisation is based on a positive scientific assessment from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

mCombriax will be one more option for national authorities to consider for vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 and influenza.

The composition of mCombriax is expected to be updated regularly to match the viral strains circulating in the community.