September 30, 2021

Results from the ComFluCOV study looking at giving a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time

The Combining Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination (ComFluCOV) study was designed to establish the safety of co-administering the most widely used COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the UK and describe the expected side effects and immune responses to the vaccines when they are given together.

The researchers leading this study now have the first results, which has been posted as a preprint.

Two COVID-19 and three influenza vaccines were tested, meaning six combinations in all.  A total of 679 volunteers took part in the study, randomised to either receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at their first study visit then a saline injection (placebo) at their second visit; or to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and a saline injection (placebo) at their first visit and then the flu vaccine at their second visit.

Journalists dialled in to this briefing to hear the scientists running the study discuss their results and things such as:

– how did the immune responses compare when the vaccines were given together?

– what about side effects when vaccines were given together?

Please note this data is preprint, so it is early work that has not yet been through peer-review and is not published in a journal. 

Speakers included:

Dr Rajeka Lazarus, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), and Chief Investigator for the ComFluCOV study

Prof Chris Rogers, Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials and Director of Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of Comments.