European Medicines Agency Recommends Approval of Moderna’s Combined COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine
Brussels, Belgium – March 1, 2026 – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of a combined vaccine developed by Moderna to protect against both COVID-19 and influenza with a single dose. This paves the way for it to become the first single-dose vaccine for individuals aged 50 and older against both diseases within the European Union.
Currently, individuals require two separate doses to be protected against both viruses, with vaccines needing to be updated annually to address circulating strains. Moderna aims to simplify the vaccination process with this new vaccine, named mCombriax.
The recommendation is based on a study involving approximately 8,000 participants, which demonstrated that recipients of the combined vaccine produced higher levels of antibodies compared to those who received separate doses of Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine and traditional influenza vaccines. The agency also considered additional data regarding the effectiveness of mRNA technology in stimulating an appropriate immune response against influenza strains and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Moderna is relying on this vaccine, along with its mRNA-based influenza vaccine, to support a return to revenue growth following a decline in demand for COVID-19 vaccines in recent years. The company’s stock has lost approximately 90% of its value compared to its peak in 2021.
The European Commission will now review the EMA’s recommendation before making a final decision regarding marketing authorization within EU member states. A clear timeline for this decision has not yet been established.