SLU Researchers Enroll Participants in 2-in-1 COVID and Flu Vaccine Clinical Trial
ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University’s Center for Vaccine Development is participating in a clinical study for an investigational vaccine being developed against influenza and COVID developed by Pfizer, which is funding this research.
While there are licensed vaccines and treatments for both influenza and COVID, the current vaccines have been given as separate shots. This study looks at whether both vaccines can be combined into one shot without affecting the antibody response to either vaccine.
Sarah George, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at SLU School of Medicine and a researcher in SLU’s Vaccine Center. SLU file photo.
Sarah George, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at SLU School of Medicine and a researcher in SLU’s Vaccine Center, will assist in studying whether the combined vaccine induces the body to make antibodies to both influenza and COVID, compared with giving both vaccines separately.
“Since it looks like COVID will be with us for the long haul, just as flu is, it’s important to see if we can combine both vaccines into one shot without compromising immunity of both,” George said. “It’s vital that we continue to work to develop combined vaccines that can protect all of us, especially the vulnerable, from these illnesses.”
The phase 3 clinical trial is being conducted at over 200 sites in the United States, including Saint Louis University. SLU researchers are recruiting around 150 healthy adults 18 through 64 years of age who have not had a flu or COVID vaccine in the past 6 months. Overall, the study will recruit 9,000 volunteers and will last about a year. Each volunteer will have 3 study visits.
To learn more about vaccine research being conducted at Saint Louis University, call 314-977-6333 or email vaccine@slu.edu. For more information on this study, please visit the ClinicalTrials.gov website link here.
Latest Newslink
- Jamaica Kincaid Receives the 2024 St. Louis Literary AwardRenowned Antigua-born author Jamaica Kincaid received the 2024 St. Louis Literary Award on Thursday, April 25.
- Colson Whitehead to Receive the 2025 St. Louis Literary AwardPulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead will receive the 2025 St. Louis Literary Award from Saint Louis University. Whitehead will come to St. Louis next spring to accept the award. The award ceremony will be held in April 2025.Whitehead is the author of the novels “The Intuitionist,” “John Henry Days,” “Apex Hides the Hurt,” “Sag Harbor,” “The Underground Railroad,” “The Nickel Boys,” and “Harlem Shuffle,” among others.
- SLU Students Receive Fulbright RecognitionSaint Louis University has one finalist for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and one alternate for a Research/Study Award. Grace Almgren received an English Teaching Assistant and will be teaching in Spain. The research/study alternate is Anuj Gandhi, who applied for a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant. An alternate is a candidate who can be promoted to Finalist status if additional funding becomes available.
- SLU Students Earn Prestigious STEM ScholarshipsTwo Saint Louis University students, Liz Pfau and Natalie Walsh, have won Goldwater Scholarships after a lengthy application process. The Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious national undergraduate award for students in STEM who intend to pursue a career in STEM research after graduation.
- SLU Community Invited to Participate in St. Louis Literary Award Events This WeekRenowned Antigua-born author Jamaica Kincaid will receive the St. Louis Literary Award this week.
- SLU Hosts Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, National SecuritySaint Louis University held a conference focused on educating the next generation on AI practice in national security. The event featured top industry experts, government leaders, and researchers. This was the second conference hosted by SLU’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.