Since 2022 health systems have faced a "tripledemic" of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. The 2023–2024 respiratory season in the United States had about 1 million combined hospitalizations linked to these viruses.
Researchers describe a combined vaccine under development that delivers five viral proteins in one shot. The team used a platform called CoPoP and added two immune-stimulating ingredients, PHAD and QS-21, to increase potency.
Tests in mice, ferrets and cotton rats produced protective immune responses. The scientists found no clear immune interference, but they say more studies are needed. No vaccine that protects against all three viruses is yet approved.
Difficult words
- tripledemic — A time with three virus epidemics at once
- hospitalization — When a person is admitted to hospitalhospitalizations
- protein — A natural part of cells in living thingsproteins
- potency — How strong a medicine or vaccine is
- interference — When one immune response affects another response
- approve — To officially allow or accept somethingapproved
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Discussion questions
- Have you or someone you know had flu, COVID-19, or RSV? What happened?
- Would you want a single vaccine for several viruses? Why or why not?
- Why do the scientists say more studies are needed for the combined vaccine?
