Moderna Pulls Promising Covid-Flu Combo Shot as RFK Continues Antivax Campaign

Moderna had designs on releasing a combined influenza and covid-19 vaccine after some promising trials, but this week the drugmaker said it would withdraw its application seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the time being, according to a report from Reuters—the latest indication that Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism has fully infected the federal government. Moderna isn’t giving up on the combo shot entirely—it plans to resubmit later this year after it collects more data from its Phase III trials, which test how well a new treatment works compared to existing options. But the early indicators out of its trials have been positive, with recipients of the dual vaccine generating the same or greater immune response compared to those given separate vaccines. But for the time being, the company is pulling back and doesn’t anticipate approval being granted until at least 2026. The company’s decision to ... Read full article.